CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, provides a treatment process that uses a CPAP machine to generate and force air, at a preset pressure, into the airway. The airway pressure keeps the airway open to prevent snoring, sleep apnea, and in some instances, respiratory distress and failure. Newer CPAP machines are significantly quieter, smaller and more lightweight than older models. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, more than 12 million American adults have obstructive sleep apnea, with more than half of these individuals using CPAP because of being overweight.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
CPAP is the most effective nonsurgical approach to treating obstructive and central sleep apnea. Sleep apnea, most often determined by a sleep study, is the result of shallow breathing or multiple gaps in breathing during sleep. As a result, oxygen levels drops, signaling the brain to wake up the sleeper. As a result, he snores and gasps to reopen the airway. This constant cycle of sleeping and waking results in poor sleep quality, which compromises health by causing daytime sleepiness. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, if gone untreated, sleep apnea increases the incidence of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity and diabetes.
Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea, while not as common as obstructive, still has the same result. According to the Mayo Clinic, central sleep apnea results when the brain fails to deliver the proper signals, causing a cessation of breathing, or apnea, which leads to a drop in oxygen and a rising carbon dioxide level. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute defines complex sleep apnea as obstructive and central sleep apnea occurring in unison. While snoring occurs with obstructive sleep apnea, it typically is not associated with central sleep apnea.
Respiratory Failure
NPPV, or noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, is essentially CPAP used with patients in respiratory distress and respiratory failure. For patients who choose not to be intubated--have a tube placed in the airway--a physician will temporarily use NPPV/CPAP to see if the condition improves prior to placing the patient on a ventilator. NPPV/CPAP also uses a CPAP or BiPAP machine, tubing, mask and in most instances supplemental oxygen. Respiratory distress and subsequent failure are often the result of inadequate oxygenation or an increase in carbon dioxide or both. A BiPAP machine can create two levels of pressure, whereas a CPAP machine creates a single, continuous level of pressure.
