Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Treatment
Continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) uses a CPAP machine or device to help a person who has obstructive sleep apnea breathe more easily during sleep. A CPAP device increases air pressure in your throat so that your breathing will not be interrupted during sleep. When you use CPAP machine, you and your bed partner may sleep better too.
You use CPAP machine at home every night while you sleep. The CPAP machine will have one of the following:
- A mask
- A mask that covers your nose only
- Prongs that fit into your nose.
How It Works
CPAP device is effective for treating person with sleep apnea:
- CPAP device is better than other nonsurgical methods for treating obstructive sleep apnea.
- Research shows that CPAP device decreases daytime sleepiness
- People who use CPAP device for longer times each night (around 7 hours) have less daytime sleepiness and depression and fewer heart issues than people who use CPAP for shorter times (around 5 hours).
- Studies show that in people who have moderate to severe sleep apnea, nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) lowers blood pressure during both the day and the night.