Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is often the treatment of choice for people who have been diagnosed as suffering with OSA. This treatment works by preventing the air passage from narrowing or collapsing during sleep.
CPAP equipment continuously and gently blows slightly pressurised air through a nasal mask into the air passage. This prevents the collapse of the airway during sleep.
Once the passage is held open by the use of CPAP, both breathing and sleep usually return to normal.
As part of your diagnosis, you may arrange for the patient to try CPAP in hospital or at home. This is to ensure that the treatment is suitable for the patient and that pressure from the CPAP unit is tuned to their individual needs.
This is usually carried out over a short period of time. The patient will be fitted with a comfortable close-fitting nasal mask, which is connected to the CPAP machine. Should a nasal mask not be appropriate you may recommend the use of a full-face mask. Other tests may also take place to confirm the effectiveness of the therapy.
Auto PAP
The patient may be prescribed Auto PAP which varies the pressure delivered to the patient throughout the night to prevent their airway from collapsing. The auto PAP can sometimes be used to evaluate and titrate a fixed pressure for long-term treatment.
The first few weeks of use at home will show whether the CPAP equipment has improved the patients’ symptoms and will require regular use to be most effective.| | Healthcare Home | Homecare Home | Patients & Carers | Clinicians | Health Authorities | First Aiders | Media Information | About Us | | airproducts.com | tell me more | Site Map | |
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