What Is CPAP?
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a process of applying more pressure to the airway to help a person to breathe more easily. It is a process that is commonly used to help people who suffer obstructive sleep apnea. Through this breathing therapy process, the person can find comfort and therefore, they will sleep more peacefully. Nasal therapy is one of the most common ways to use this process to help patients sleep better; especially those with chronic problems.
A Noninvasive Process
One of the things that you will like about CPAP is that it is noninvasive, and so, you do not have to worry about safety issues. While others may be eligible for surgery and other procedures, this treatment allows you to purchase a particular device and use it any time you want to have more quality sleep. The fact that sleep apnea disrupts normal breathing is an indication that it can lead to more severe problems than just lack of sleep.
People in Need of CPAP Therapy
No specific group of people can benefit from CPAP therapy because, as studies show, people of all ages can suffer from breathing problems. Infants suffer from sleep apnea just the same way seniors do. However, the problem may be more prevalent among those with advanced ages because certain conditions can become more severe with time. Conditions, such as sleep apnea, are likely to get worse when left unattended.
No Blood Flowing to the Lungs
In patients who suffer from sleep apnea, the person experiences frequent pauses in breathing as they sleep. The result is that the body will be deprived of oxygen because there is almost none flowing to the lungs, and therefore sleep will be disrupted – or worse. In response to that, the body has to evoke its natural defense mechanism to ensure that breathing resumes, and that is how sleep becomes elusive. It is a good thing that even though this can be discomforting, there are solutions available to patients through CPAP therapy.
Treatment and Support
One of the reasons a person experiences pauses in breath is the relaxation of throat muscles. Obstruction in the airway can lead to this situation as well. People who suffer from sleep apnea or other respiratory condition can rejoice in the fact accessibility to effective treatments has grown in recent years. They can also use special devices to ensure that they are safe and comfortable all the time.
Various Options
However, you need to know that treatment and support depend on the severity of the problem. For example, those with mild apnea can change sometimes resolve their condition with adjustments to their lifestyle. In these cases, a light exercise to lose weight and avoiding alcoholic drinks and cigarettes can help them a great deal. In addition to that, nasal sprays can help them live normally. For those with moderate or severe apnea, a nasal CPAP machine is required. This machine blows air through a mask into your nose to ensure that the airway is open all the time.
No matter how much you have been affected by sleep apnea, there is no need to fret because doctors and nurses are always available to help. They will assess your situation and rate your level of need to come up with the best recommendations.