CPAP is 'gold standard' treatment prescribed for the management of sleep apnea syndrome and some related sleep-disordered breathing disorders. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the treatment of choice for most people with obstructive and mixed apnea. It is the most reliable and effective treatment in most cases. Hundreds of thousands of CPAP devices are now in use treating obstructive sleep apnoea.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment blows air into your nose to keep your airway from collapsing. Snoring and sleep apnea are problems with breathing that take place during sleep. During sleep the airway in your throat can become very relaxed and interfere with your breathing. You snore or you choke because air can't get past the obstruction. This keeps waking you up and destroys your quality sleep. By increasing the air pressure in your airway, CPAP treatment keeps your airway from becoming blocked or obstructed. CPAP uses a small, quiet air blower device connected through a hose to a mask you wear while you sleep. This devices isn't as unpleasant as it sounds - most people get used to the sensation fairly quickly. And they feel much better because their sleep has improved.
There are several types of positive airway pressure devices use to treat sleep apnea, including 1) CPAP, 2) bi-level positive airway pressure, and 3) responsive and "smart" airway pressure devices. They are all variations on Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP. As with any form of treatment, physicians and patients may need to review capabilities and features and select carefully among the several types of device and the specific brand and model.
Bi-level positive airway pressure is a variation on CPAP. Instead of providing air at a constant, steady pressure all night, the machines "senses" if you are breathing in or out varies its level of pressure accordingly. On inspiration, a higher pressure is needed to prevent apneas, hypopneas, or snoring. But when you breathe out, you may feel more comfortable if there is less resistance, and the pressure can be lower while protecting you from apnea. Several manufacturers make bi-level airway pressure devices.
In the belief that the reduction of total airway flow would provide greater comfort to the patient and encourage patients to use the airway pressure treatment on a regular basis, several manufacturers have begun to offer a new generation of treatment devices. These devices incorporate flow and pressure sensors and automatic regulation systems. There are three basic approaches.
As professionals in the field of sleep disorders gain experience with these devices and their appropriate applications, they may provide an additional path to diagnosis as well as relief for selected patients.
Will this machine do everything?CPAP treatment can bring relief from fatigue and give you back your life. But, like any treatment prescribed for you, how you follow through can make a big difference. You will have a better chance at success with this treatment if you learn more about it and know how to make it work for you. You can learn how to work effectively with your care-givers. Read about Phantom of the Night to learn how. This handbook gives you authoritative information from a physician plus the experience and insights of a patient.
Read Phantom of the Night to learn how CPAP treatment can bring relief from fatigue and give you back your life. Learn more about other therapies and the latest devices for sleep apnea including CPAP, Bi-level positive pressure, and smart or automatic positive airway pressure devices: Phantom of the Night has been used by thousands of people with sleep apnea and snoring to work with their physicians to obtain effective relief.
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