A CPAP Machine is the most often prescribed machine to those who suffer from sleep apnoea. The abbreviation CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. This type of machine is used for obstructive sleep apnoea. Obstructive sleep apnoea is caused when the muscles in your upper airway relax during sleep. The CPAP pushes air into your upper airway causing the naturally relaxing muscles to stay open during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnoea suffers often snore very loudly due to narrow airways during sleep.
These machines are often small and compact, easy for the patient to carry around. They are often very quiet so you can't hear the humming of a machine pumping air while you are trying to sleep. There are several choices of masks if you need to use a CPAP Machine. Most are full faced but you don't have to have a monster attached to your face. You have the choice of gel, plastic, silicone, full face, or simple ones that cover your nose and mouth.
Sleep apnoea causes abnormal pauses in breathing, or shallow breaths while asleep. These episodes often will cause people to not breathe for a few seconds to minutes. The mixture of lack of oxygen and snoring often leaves people fatigued and tired upon waking the next day. They will find themselves falling asleep or very tired throughout the daily activities.
There is another type of PAP machine called a BiPAP machine. This is used for more severe cases of sleep apnoea. Many times doctors will use these machines in the ICU to help patients be extubated early, and even to help prevent patients from being intubated. Since the BiPAP machines development it has helped neonates with underdeveloped lungs as well as many people with respiratory diseases breathe easier. Masks for your standard machines will be full faced and you won't have as many choices as with a CPAP machine. This is due to the required amount of air pressure being supplied to help your breathing.
The CPAP and BiPAP Machines are completely different in nature but help people with breathing difficulties alike. They can range in price from a couple hundred dollars to a few thousand. You cannot obtain either machine without the prescription of a doctor. Sleep studies are used to diagnose and discover what type of machine will suit you best. A sleep study is done overnight, at a clinic and you are monitored all night. They check your heart rate, sleep depth, oxygen levels, and for various other ailments like restless leg syndrome.
Mithul Mistry is writing on behalf of Health Oxygen, a specialist in CPAP and BiPAP Machines.
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