Positive airway pressure therapy is a common treatment for sleep apnea, using machines to pump pressurized air into the nose to keep airways clear and improve breathing. The most common device is a CPAP machine, but some patients may benefit from a VPAP machine that adjusts pressure levels. Positive airway pressure therapy can also be used in emergency situations for patients with respiratory or heart problems.
Individuals suffering from sleep apnea often find relief from their breathing problems using positive airway pressure therapy. Small positive airway pressure machines pump streams of pressurized air directly into a person’s nose while they sleep, keeping the throat and lungs clear of obstructions and encouraging proper breathing. Medical research shows that consistent use of a positive airway pressure device throughout the night can significantly improve sleep quality and relieve related symptoms of sleep apnea, such as sore throat, headache, and snoring. Occasionally, doctors and nurses use positive airway pressure therapy for patients in emergency situations, such as collapsed lungs or heart failure.
The most common type of device given to patients with sleep apnea is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which delivers a constant stream of compressed air to a mask or nose piece. While the individual sleeps, the CPAP machine creates a vacuum around the nose and maintains a predetermined level of air pressure in the airways throughout the night. As a result, the airways remain open and an individual is able to rest well, without fear of waking up due to shortness of breath.
Physicians and sleep technicians generally conduct physical exams on patients to determine the level of airway pressure they need. Many CPAP machines have adjustable settings, so technicians can easily increase or decrease the amount of pressure. Over time, individuals with sleep apnea usually require less and less pressure to ensure restful sleep. Most patients, however, are unable to give up their devices altogether. Sleep apnea is a chronic condition and symptoms can quickly recur when a person stops using their CPAP machine for a period of time.
Many patients have difficulty falling asleep and staying rested while wearing CPAP masks and are subjected to constant airflow. It can be difficult to exhale comfortably when air is continually being pumped into your nose and lungs. To relieve the strain placed on some patients, medical engineers have designed a variable positive airway pressure (VPAP) machine that automatically reduces the intensity of air pressure when a person exhales. VPAP machines are able to determine when individuals are breathing in or out and can adjust the pressure levels provided accordingly.
Positive airway pressure treatments can be given in hospitals to patients with various respiratory and heart problems to improve their breathing. Patients suffering from respiratory failure, lung collapse, heart failure, and other conditions where breathing becomes shallow or difficult can benefit significantly from specialized CPAP or VPAP machines. Using these devices allows doctors and nurses to focus on other aspects of rehabilitating and treating patients.
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