CPAP Explained
This article explains what CPAP is. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and it's basically a therapy used in the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a condition in which air passage in the back of the throat is blocked during sleep by the tongue and other soft tissues. OSA can lead to loud snoring and the far more serious problem - trouble breathing while sleeping, which can be fatal. Another effect from OSA could be daytime sleeping which means that the person can feel so sleepy that he or she can even fall asleep while driving, or cause memory problems or changes in behavior. The thing is that a lot of people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea don't even realize it so it's usually a family member that makes them aware of the problem. People who are prone to OSA problems are heavy smokers and overweight persons, mostly male.
CPAP Treatment
CPAP treatment involves a CPAP machine which delivers air to a CPAP mask. Of course, the mask doesn't breath for you, but the air flow that it delivers is under enough pressure (from the CPAP machine) that when you inhale, it keeps your airway open. This makes CPAP the most effective treatment for OSA. Tests have proven that CPAP is almost 100% effective, but it doesn't actually cure the problem, instead is deals with its effects. Problem is that nearly 30% find it hard to wear a CPAP mask every night so a surgery could be necessary in such cases.
Sleep Apnea There is a clearly scientific explanation to sleep apnea. Apnea means cessation of breathing for at least 10 seconds and sometimes during sleep, it can occur 20 to 60 times per hour. If this happens the quality of the person's sleep is severely compromised, declining the quality of life and can cause really serious health problems. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is defined as the repeated problems related to breathing during sleep. When the muscles which support the tongue and soft palate relax during sleep the airway becomes narrower causing snoring and some breathing difficulty. That's the explanation to OSA. The CPAP machine works like an air compressor and delivers air to the CPAP mask, so the patient doesn't require surgery. The air that's delivered by the CPAP machine is normal air, not enriched in oxygen, just regular air. This fact makes CPAP a relatively safe medical type of treatment. The idea is that this air delivered under pressure keeps the person's airway open.
|