A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy helps treat breathing complications like Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Patients with OSA may have difficulty gaining a blissful night’s sleep as the condition prevents sufferers from breathing for a few seconds throughout the night, causing a few to a hundred interruptions depending on the severity. CPAP therapy provides devices to help counteract and eventually treat the condition to clear air passageways.
What is CPAP?
CPAP therapy uses appropriate devices to help patients regarding their breathing problems. A CPAP device helps increase the flow of air pressure in the throat. The outcome is air can pass through better with constant pressure. This device consists of three parts, which are:
- CPAP motor
A small compressor. It attracts room temperature air before pressurizing it. Then, the machine releases the ideal amount of air pressure to help clear breathing obstructions.
- CPAP hoses
These devices are vital to transporting pressurized air from the motor to the patient’s mask.
- CPAP mask
CPAP masks come in different shapes and sizes to suit different users. Variations include nasal masks, nasal pillows, and full-face masks.
For more information regarding CPAP therapy and its devices, you can check CPAP Direct.
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The Benefits of CPAP for Breathing Problems
Failure to treat sleep apnea and other breathing problems may lead to more severe health concerns. CPAP therapy can help lessen the risks of specific health conditions from aggravating. The treatment can help protect sleep apnea patients and sufferers of breathing problems from the following health risks:
1. Heart Disease
CPAP helps in reducing sleep apnea, which thereby assists in lowering the risk of heart disease. OSA may lead to a range of heart problems because patients don’t exhibit standard breathing patterns during sleep. The changes in breathing patterns may cause changes in blood pressure. Therefore, it can also reduce blood oxygen levels. These events may put a significant strain on the OSA sufferer’s heart.
The regular use of CPAP devices can help protect patients from specific heart problems. These heart issues include:
- Irregular heartbeats
- Coronary artery disease
- Congestive heart failure
2. Headaches and Migraines
Low oxygen levels related to OSA may cause blood vessels to widen. It can cause vascular headaches after waking up. Also, OSA may be a prime suspect for daytime sleepiness. Since the patient cannot have a sound sleep at night because of air passageway obstructions, drowsiness and fatigue may set during the day.
CPAP therapy can help reduce the occurrence of headaches and migraines caused by sleep apnea. Patients may acquire better sleep, which may lead to a better attention span, less drowsiness during the day, and more abundant energy pools. Also, it may provide extra mental benefits of sleep like:
- Improved memory
- Reduced risks of depression
- Fewer chances of binge eating
- Enhanced productivity throughout the day
- Help keep emotions intact
3. High Blood Pressure
Many studies show a relation between OSA and high blood pressure. For instance, WebMD has an article called “Sleep Apnea Devices Lower Blood Pressure.” In the post, the author describes many research materials showing CPAP therapy to help lower high blood pressure.
Despite the positive findings, the results are inconclusive as to which health condition came first: high blood pressure or OSA. Still, both health concerns affect each other, and these studies show that sleep apnea can cause a rise in blood pressure in patients during sleep.
The lack of oxygen fed to red blood cells may send event signals to the brain to increase the body’s blood pressure. A CPAP device may help normalize blood pressure, which may also result in better rest.
4. Snoring
Snoring might not be a serious health concern in itself, but it can be a sign for an underlying issue. One of the reasons for snoring is because of obstructed nasal airways. People who snore might be a sleep apnea sufferer, and it may also put unnecessary strain on the heart.
While CPAP therapy cannot completely alleviate snoring, it can help reduce blockage and constrictions in air passageways. Lessening the occurrences of snoring may lead to better sleep, and perhaps also a well-rested bed partner.
Other health concerns wherein CPAP may be useful are the stuffy nose, dry mouth, and specific cardiovascular problems. While it’s an excellent way to help reduce or treat these health issues, CPAP devices are ideal for helping treat sleep apnea. Consider consulting your doctor if you think you have OSA. Also, you may want to schedule an appointment with your physician soon so the condition won’t worsen.