CPAP – CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE

According to the American Association of Sleep Medicine AASM, the “gold standard” in treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome (OSA) is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP).

CPAP ventilation is a popular method for treating most conditions of Obstructive sleep apnea. And currently, this is the best and non-invasive method. The machine blows gently air pressure into your upper airway to keep your airway open while you sleep. The airflow will act as a splint to keep the airway from narrowing. The device will help you limit snoring and have a good sleep, and energetic health the next day.

CPAP VENTILATOR MECHANISM

CPAP ventilators use a level of positive pressure throughout the patient’s sleep. Normally, the machine will be set to the lowest pressure level so that the patient does not feel uncomfortable while sleeping. In some more severe cases, this pressure level may have to be increased a bit.

When the machine detects an event in your sleep such as snoring or apnea, the machine will gradually increase the pressure to the preset treatment pressure level. Until the patient has no snoring or apnea, the machine will reduce to the original pressure level and continue to maintain this pressure level until the next event occurs or the patient wakes up. Don’t worry too much about the pressure level waking you up. This therapeutic pressure level will not affect your sleep because you are already asleep and only maintain this pressure level for a short time.

INDICATION OF CPAP VENTILATOR

CPAP ventilators are indicated in the following cases:
🔹 Moderate to severe sleep apnea syndrome
🔹 Respiratory failure failing oxygen therapy
🔹 Apnea in premature newborns
🔹 Bronchiolitis and pneumonia
🔹 Collapsible airways such as in tracheomalacia
….
The appointment of a CPAP ventilator in each case will be according to the doctor’s or sleep specialist’s prescription.

WHY SHOULD YOU USE CPAP WHEN YOU SLEEP?

There are three benefits to using CPAP while sleeping:

🔻 CPAP machines help stop snoring and reduce apnea
Snoring often causes discomfort for those around you, and can even cause rifts between husband and wife. Therefore, many people with obstructive sleep apnea use CPAP to keep their partner comfortable. Some people consider snoring a joke, but it can have a huge impact on your quality of life. Some studies show that snoring can affect blood vessels in the neck, affecting blood flow to the brain.

🔻 CPAP helps improve daytime symptoms
Many people feel better after using CPAP nightly. Research trials have shown improvements in daytime sleepiness, quality of life, and reduced risk of traffic accidents.

🔻 CPAP May Improve the Risk of Heart Disease and Diabetes
In research trials, CPAP has been shown to improve high blood pressure and may reduce the risk of heart attacks and other serious medical conditions. Large-scale research trials are still underway to investigate the long-term benefits of CPAP.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN’T BREATHE THE CPAP MACHINE?

CPAP therapy can be of great benefit to some patients, but not to everyone. Most people feel that their exhalation is heavier than normal because the machine provides a fixed level of pressure to the patient’s breathing process. But this feeling does not affect health and patients will get used to it after 1-2 days of use. And you should also change to another type of mask to make breathing easier. Education and support can be helpful in getting the person used to using CPAP.
A CPAP machine can be uncomfortable when you’re not used to it, but it’s not invasive, so many patients do well with it over time.

DEVICE LINES LIKE CPAP

When talking about these treatments in general, people just use the term positive airway pressure (PAP) or the term CPAP generically to refer to all the different therapies.
Currently, there are 3 lines of devices similar to CPAP:

🔻 CPAP – Continuous Positive Airway Ventilation
CPAP uses a fixed pressure level that your doctor or technician will determine based on laboratory calibration or from the APAP device.

🔻 APAP – Automatic Positive Pressure Ventilation
APAP will change pressure every time the machine detects an event during sleep such as snoring, apnea, hypopnea,… to keep the airway open. Each company has a slightly different method for determining optimal pressure. APAP devices will be more optimal during treatment, making patients more comfortable and easier to fall asleep.

🔻 BiPAP – 2 levels of positive pressure ventilation
BiPAP will set 2 levels of positive pressure corresponding to the patient’s inhalation and exhalation, ensuring the patient feels the most like normal breathing. BiPAP machines are used by some doctors to improve comfort compared to CPAP and APAP. Bi-level Bi-PAP can also be used for patients who are not breathing adequately (hypoventilation) but is mostly not needed for normal obstructive sleep apnea.