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Treatment Options for Sleep ApneaThere are several
different treatment options for sleep apnea. None of these are a perfect solution,
and each has their own unique benefits and problems. Depending upon different factors,
certain treatments may be better for you than others. Making the best decision isn’t
always easy, but you need to be well informed about the options to make a
good decision. CPAPWhat is CPAP?CPAP stands for Continuous
Positive Airway Pressure. These
means there is a constant airway pressure applied to the airway when
connected to the CPAP machine. CPAP requires several
things. First is the CPAP
machine. This is essentially a
fan which is controlled by a computer.
The fan creates airflow in a semi-closed system, and this airflow
creates a certain level of pressure.
The computer is able to measure the pressure and change the airflow in
order to modify the desired pressure. The CPAP machine needs to
be connected to the patient. This
requires some tubing which connects the machine to the interface. The interface is attached to the
patient. The most common
interface is a nasal mask, but there are other options including a full face
mask (which covers the nose and mouth), nasal pillows (which plug into the
inside of the nose), and newer variations called hybrid masks (which connect
to the nose and mouth. There are many benefits of
using CPAP to treat sleep apnea.
However, there are often small problems at the beginning of therapy
that need to be worked out.
Continue reading to find out more! What do you need for CPAP?CPAP treatment requires a
CPAP machine, an interface, and other supplies including appropriate
headgear, tubing, and filters. In
addition, the CPAP needs to be set Variations of CPAP
include: Auto-adjusting
PAP, Bilevel PAP, and Adaptive Servoventilation CPAP interfaces (click one
of the following) What are the benefits of
CPAP? CPAP is considered first
line therapy since it is the most effective treatment available to date. Other treatment options for people who
do not want CPAP or cannot tolerate CPAP include: Oral ApplianceSurgeryWeight LossPositional Therapy
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