If you’ve received a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)—which causes numerous brief pauses in breathing as you sleep—your doctor has probably recommended continuous positive airway pressure.
With CPAP, the mainstay treatment for the disorder, you typically wear a masklike apparatus that’s connected to a pump. The pump pushes air into your airway, holding it open while you sleep.
CPAP machine can significantly cut the number of nighttime breathing pauses you experience—but only if you wear the device. And roughly one-third of CPAP users don’t stick with treatment. According to the review, users often cited problems with comfort, convenience, and claustrophobia as reasons for giving up on CPAP.
How CPAP Works
There are currently approximately 5.9 million OSA diagnoses among U.S. adults, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. In those with the disorder, neck and throat muscles relax during sleep, causing the soft tissue at the back of the throat to collapse and block air from reaching the airway. That causes a series of partial or complete pauses in breathing, sometimes hundreds of them each night.
CPAP—which sends enough air into the upper airway to prop it open—has been the cornerstone of therapy for moderate to severe OSA since the 1980s.
The prescription treatment has been shown to improve sleep quality, reduce daytime sleepiness, help normalize blood pressure, and ease other related health risks.
Not only can CPAP be effective, but the machines are now easier to tolerate—quieter and less clunky than older devices.
Many newer CPAPs allow you to start the night at a lower air pressure setting—and have that pressure rise gradually after you fall asleep. This can reduce the jarring feeling of air being forced into your nose or mouth.
Find the Right Device for You
Finding a CPAP mask that is comfortable enough to allow you to slumber is essential. (You’ll also consider factors like the severity of your OSA and the air pressure setting your doctor has recommended to keep your airways open during sleep.)
