There are a variety of treatments available and include devices that assist in maintaining the airway open. Sleep apnea equipment consists of a tiny medical pump as well as a tube attached to a mask that can be worn on the mouth, or over the nose or both. The machines for sleep apnea pump controlled amounts of compressed air into the airway, thereby holding open the muscles that relax similar to how air expands balloons.
Sleep apnea devices are available only upon a physician’s explanation and they must be accompanied by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. The doctor of the patient decides the quantity of pressurized air given, based on the type and severity of the sleep apnea.
Many types of sleep apnea devices are available. The most popular of sleep apnea devices is CPAP which stands for continuously positive airway pressure. A CPAP is typically about as big as a shoebox but occasionally smaller. The machine is connected to the facemask through the flexible tube. It functions by forcing air into the tube at a large enough pressure to stop the occurrence in sleep apnea.
Another form of sleep apnea machine is VPAP or adjustable positive pressure. Also known as bi-level , or BiPAP the machine utilizes an electronic circuit that monitors the patient’s breathing to offer two pressures. Higher pressures are utilized to inhale, whereas the lower pressure is used to exhale. VPAP also known as BiPAP is more costly than CPAP and can be utilized for patients with additional respiratory conditions, and/or those who struggle to breathe against pressure.
Another alternative is APAP which stands for the automatic positive pressure in the airways. Recently accepted by the FDA for sleep apnea, this device is equipped with pressure sensors and an electronic computer that continuously checks the patient’s respiration. APAP will then adjust the pressure in response to breathing patterns change. Of all the options, APAP is by far the most advanced and could be the most costly.
The features available on sleep apnea machines comprise ramps that allow the patient to begin their night’s sleep with low pressure and “ramp” it up as the night progresses. Sleep apnea machines are also equipped with a humidifier heated. A humid and warm atmosphere can help prevent sleep apnea related events, may help with breathing and reduce the effects of dry throat and dry mouth when you wake up. Some sleep apnea equipments can be used to track the frequency of use by the CPAP. They can also track whether the patient has experienced any sleep apnea symptoms during the use of the sleep apnea device. The doctor of the patient is able to access this information to determine the efficacy of the treatment.
A compliance motor added to machines for sleep apnea provides independent evidence of whether the person is getting adequate amounts of deep sleep. With sleep apnea devices that have this feature, the user might have to bring the device to the sleep center to download the data or transmit the data using a phone modem that is included by the machine, which doesn’t need Internet access.