CPAP or Constant Positive Airway Pressure is a mode of artificial ventilation of the lungs with the creation of positive airway pressure after exhalation. Currently, CPAP therapy is used for the treatment of snoring, treatment of sleep apnea, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, daytime sleepiness, obesity, impotence, insomnia, and depression. How can CPAP therapy cure so many diseases? All of these diseases are believed to be closely associated with a disturbance of normal sleep.

Why is sleep so important?

Sleep helps the body to relax from the stress that a person faces every day. During sleep, hormonal regulation occurs in our body. Some hormones are secreted only during sleep, and some hormones are secreted only after sleep. Therefore, if sleep is disturbed, then there is a disturbance of the hormonal balance and transmitters of the nervous system, which ultimately leads to the development of various psychological and physical diseases. The main cause of normal sleep disturbance is sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is an absence of pulmonary ventilation during sleep for more than 10 seconds, characterized by a decrease in blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) by 4% or more. Sleep apnea usually lasts 20-30 seconds, however, in severe cases it can last 2-3 minutes. Sometimes the number of sleep apnea episodes can be up to 60% of the total night’s sleep. Regular sleep apnea (usually no less than 10 to 15 times an hour) is called obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The main symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome are daytime sleepiness, impaired memory and intelligence that affects work capacity, and a constant feeling of fatigue.

The main cause of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is upper airway obstruction. Upper airway obstruction means that air cannot get into the lungs and there is oxygen deprivation throughout the body.

CPAP – Why is it used?

Constant positive airway pressure (CPAP) is an effective method of treating obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. CPAP therapy was introduced into clinical practice in 1981 by an Australian physician and professor. Colin Sullivan for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

The mechanism of action of the CPAP device is quite simple. A small compressor is used to create a constant flow of air under a certain pressure into the airways during exhalation through flexible tubing and a nasal mask. A humidifier is also used, which provides hydration and warms the air that enters the respiratory tract. This device does not allow the upper airway to become obstructed due to constant positive air pressure and eliminates the main cause of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

CPAP therapy for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is now universally accepted. Before prescribing CPAP therapy, a polysomnography, or in other words, a sleep study, is required. Polysomnography is a medical examination of a patient’s sleep with the use of specialized computer systems. Polysomnography allows calculating the apnea index and determining the severity of the disease.

The apnea index is the frequency of apnea episodes during one hour of sleep. The apnea index determines the severity of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The apnea index is considered pathologically significant if there are more than 20 apnea episodes per hour, regardless of the presence or absence of clinical symptoms. By the way, even more than 5 episodes of sleep apnea are considered life-threatening for a person with a gradual development of daytime sleepiness, memory impairment, psycho-emotional disorders, insomnia, development of cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure, coronary heart disease or stroke), and heart rhythm disturbance.

CPAP – How is it used?

The first session of CPAP therapy is performed the following night after a diagnostic polysomnogram. The purpose of the first CPAP session is to select the minimum air pressure that eliminates obstructive apnea, snoring, and other respiratory disturbances in all body positions and at all stages of sleep. During the first session of CPAP therapy, the minimum set of parameters will be recorded: electroencephalography, electrooculography, electromyography, thoracic and abdominal movements, body position, snoring, electrocardiography, blood saturation. These parameters allow you to determine the work of the brain and the stage of sleep, which excludes the possibility of insufficient air pressure through undiagnosed episodes of wakefulness.

The “rule of thumb” is to use the CPAP machine every night for as long as you sleep. Patients often follow this recommendation in severe forms of obstructive sleep apnea. In this case, there is an improvement in the quality of sleep and daytime activity. In mild and moderate forms of the disease, the irritating effect of the mask and airflow can sometimes decrease sleep quality, however there is a clear positive effect on daytime activity and on a number of other symptoms. One of the important advantages of CPAP therapy is the absence of side effects.

Of course, sometimes in the beginning, as with any treatment method, there can be side effects. Among the most common complaints, this can be irritation of the skin under the mask (about 50%), dryness of the mucous membrane of the nose and pharynx (about 30%), nasal congestion or runny nose (about 25 %), eye irritation (about 25%). However, these symptoms are not serious, eventually disappear, and do not interfere with continued treatment. The use of more comfortable and moisturizing heat masks effectively eliminates all these side effects.

In addition, there are some recommendations on how to eliminate these unpleasant effects in treatment:

1. Use CPAP therapy every day during the first 4-5 hours of sleep. During this period of time, the deepest sleep exists and the adverse effects of CPAP therapy do not bother the patient. Then, in the other half of sleep, when sleep becomes shallow and the mask or airflow begins to interfere, the mask can be removed and sleep without it. It is important to admit that the positive effect of the treatment – decreasing the intensity of snoring and decreasing the number of apnea episodes continues for the rest of the night.

2. Use CPAP therapy with short breaks for 1-2 days. It is an intermittent use of CPAP therapy. It is recommended to use CPAP therapy at least 70% of the night time. It is highly recommended if there is hypertension or other cardiovascular diseases. Also, CPAP therapy should be performed if a significant dose of alcohol or a sleeping pill was taken before going to sleep.

Despite the presence of these minor side effects, CPAP therapy is the most effective method of treating obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

The use of CPAP therapy has greatly contributed to solving the problem of treating cardiovascular disorders and other diseases and has led to a dramatic improvement in the quality and prognosis of human life.

Where to buy CPAP supplies online?

CPAP supplies such as masks, machines, and tubing can be purchased online through Amazon or visit CPAP.com for specialty products.