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Use of CPAP in Respiratory Distress

CPAP is an acronym for a continuous positive airway pressure. CPAP therapy is most often recommended for people who suffer from sleep apnea, hypoventilation and excessive snoring in which breathing during sleep is obstructed or in which respiratory irritation causes sleeping difficulties.

  1. Sleep Apnea

    • According to the National Heart Blood and Lung Institute sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing during sleep pauses or stops for a few seconds, then starts again. Symptoms of sleep apnea include tiredness, irritability, memory problems, snoring, choking or gasping during the night, and headaches in the morning. Researchers have identified two forms of sleep apnea: central and obstructive. Central sleep apnea occurs due to malfunctions in the brain in which the signals to continue breathing momentarily pause. This causes you to stop breathing for a few moments, then start back up again. Obstructive sleep apnea is much more common, occurring when there is an obstruction in the airway due to oversized or underdeveloped organs, such as tonsils, throat, sinuses or nostrils. CPAP therapy is primarily provided through a machine that jets a continuous stream of air through tubes in a face mask and into your nostrils. The pressure of the air keeps airways open and prevents obstruction, allowing you to breathe without pause and get a fuller, more rested night's sleep. CPAP therapy is used for both central and obstructive sleep apnea, but central sleep apnea sometimes requires additional therapies.

    Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome

    • Obesity hypoventilation syndrome, or OHS, is defined by the MedLine Plus Medical Encyclopedia as a condition affecting people who are considered morbidly obese and often also have obstructive sleep apnea. Unlike sleep apnea, OHS can affect people during their waking hours as well, making them feel overly tired, irritable and short of breath. OHS results in feelings of fatigue, low blood oxygen and increased carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. OHS is treated with a CPAP machine to help open up airways during sleep and in waking hours. Additional therapies to help morbidly obese individuals lose weight are also often prescribed to treat the underlying cause of the breathing problem and to ease the problems of being severely overweight.

    Excessive Snoring

    • Perhaps the least severe condition treated by a CPAP machine is snoring. Excessive, deep snoring is often a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, but in some cases it is the result of other respiratory conditions or clogged sinuses due to a cold or flu. A CPAP machine is rarely recommended in these cases, but for those whose snoring is so loud that it renders their bed partners unable to sleep, the CPAP machine is a viable option to eliminate snoring. However, according to the article "CPAP Machines: Tips for Avoiding 10 Common Problems" on the MayoClinic.com website, CPAP machines can be uncomfortable, prompting many to stop using them. In these cases, it is best to see your doctor or a CPAP professional to ensure that the face mask for the device fits you properly. You also should use nasal lubricants to prevent drying and be patient when using the machine.

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