Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The upper portion of the throat has muscles to help keep the airway open while you breathe. These muscles relax during sleep but normally allow the airway to remain open. However, some people have an unusually narrow throat. When these people sleep, the relaxation of their muscles can cause their airway to become blocked off, leading to the patient snoring loudly and having trouble breathing. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea often have their sleep disturbed and partially wake up when their airway gets closed. This prevents them from having an uninterrupted and fully restorative night's sleep, making them tired the next day.
CPAP Machines
CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. These machines are often used to help treat obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP machines work by gently pumping air through a mask that fits over the patient's nose or face. This air is slightly pressurized, so it keeps the throat from getting closed off, which prevents obstructive sleep apnea. These devices are not considered to be ventilators in the strictest sense of the word because they don't assist with breathing in (inspiration). Instead, CPAP machines deliver the same low level of airflow for the entire night to ensure the airway doesn't get obstructed.
BiPAP
BiPAP machines are also known as bi-level positive airway pressure devices. These machines work as ventilators because in addition to providing air pressure to keep the airway open, they also work to assist inspiration (breathing in). These devices are best suited for people who have problems with their neuromuscular system (which controls breathing) or who have a weak or injured diaphragm. These machines also work using a mask that the patient wears at night. The machine contains an airflow sensor that determines when the patient is inhaling and exhaling. When the patient is inhaling, the machine increases the flow of air through the mask to make it easier for the patient to inhale.
