HomeHealthCPAP:  Breathing Therapy Given by CPAP

CPAP Machines: Thearpy for Apnea

CPAP therapy can be an absolute blessing or a complete irritation, depending on who you talk to and the particular circumstances involved. CPAP therapy is one of the most common treatment options for sleep apnea because of its high success rate when used as prescribed. Sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder, afffects millions of people throughout the country, causing loud snoring, temporary breathing cessation, continual fatigue, anxiety and irritation, poor work performance, decreased attention spans, and higher risk of other serious health concerns, such as heart problems and stroke. CPAP therapy has been successful in a vast majority of cases, preventing problems associated with the sleep disorder and restoring people's health and energy.

CPAP Therapy Offers Relief

CPAP therapy begins with the CPAP machine, a small bedside unit that pumps air into the lungs through a breathing mask. The constant stream of air is strong and unbroken, providing constant support within the airway. As a result, the airway remains clear and breathing function is never inhibited due to obstruction or collapse. Without the CPAP therapy, people suffering from sleep apnea momentarily stop breathing repeatedly throughout the night. As their bodies naturally reawaken themselves to begin breathing again, natural sleep patterns are interrupted, preventing sleep apnea sufferers from ever getting a good night's sleep.

CPAP therapy is really quite simple because all it requires is wearing a breathing mask while sleeping so that the air from the CPAP machine can reach the lungs. There are many different types of machines available for use in CPAP therapy. The most traditional CPAP machine has only one pressure of air that remains constant through a person's entire breathing cycle. However, because many people find this regularity hard to tolerate since it does not mimic natural breathing patterns, there are other options for CPAP machines that, though more expensive, prove to be more comfortable for many users.

These machines provide CPAP therapy that offers different pressures of air. Some allow users to adjust the settings themselves based on what they are comfortable with and what seems natural to them, while others automatically adjust the pressure depending on what the body needs at each particular moment. BiPAP machines work according to this principle, offering different pressures for inhalation and exhalation, which makes it much easier for people to breathe normally. Because it is hard enough as it is to get used to sleeping while wearing a breathing mask, choosing a machine for your cpap therapy that offers greater options in pressure selection can be very important in aiding your compliance with your cpap regimen.

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