CPAP uses an air pump and mask to deliver mild air pressure to the upper airway of a person while they sleep. The air pressure can be constant or variable depending on the type of machine. The CPAP pump takes in room air, pressurises it and then transports the pressurised air through a tube and mask and delivers it via the person’s nose (or nose and mouth) into their upper airway (throat). The pressurised air prevents their upper airway from collapsing, allowing them to breathe more normally while they sleep.

A prescription or referral is not required to try CPAP. It is recommended that a sleep test is completed prior. Some patients may need to speak to a sleep specialist or GP before starting on a CPAP treatment. If in doubt, it is recommended that you speak to your GP before trying a CPAP.

Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy — usually known in its most common form as “CPAP,” for continuous positive airway pressure — is considered the gold-standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). New CPAP devices, like Resmed’s AirSense™ 11, have built-in wireless technology that allows doctors to remotely track how well the machine is working for you. This makes it easier for your healthcare provider to adjust settings and ensure you are using the machine properly, which can improve long-term success with CPAP therapy. In addition, digital health solutions, like health apps, allow for better self-monitoring and therapy adjustments.

Alternative therapies for the treatment of OSA include oral appliances and positional therapy, upper airway surgery and upper airway stimulation (UAS) therapy. UAS therapy is a small, surgically implanted device that stimulates a nerve that controls the tongue to keep the airway open during sleep. UAS therapy is indicated for people who can’t tolerate PAP or BiPAP therapy and also do not have complete blockage of the soft palate and meet other eligibility requirements.

Sleep apnea can worsen with age due to factors like decreased muscle tone in the upper airway, weight gain, and changes in sleep patterns. As people age, there is also an increased likelihood of other health conditions, like cardiovascular disease, that can worsen or exacerbate sleep apnea.

Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health risks. It has been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and even dementia. While death directly from sleep apnea is rare, the cumulative health effects of prolonged untreated apnea episodes can be life-threatening. This is why timely diagnosis and treatment are critical.

Sleep apnea severity is typically measured by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), which tracks two different types of events: the number of apneas (which are brief pauses in breathing) and the number of hypopneas (which are incidences of shallow breathing) per hour of sleep.

• Mild sleep apnea: 5–14 events per hour

• Moderate sleep apnea: 15–29 events per hour

• Severe sleep apnea: 30 or more events per hour

Resmed devices are designed to track patient usage. Some devices have a feature called sleep onset that looks for breathing pattern events to detect a patient’s sleep, prompting a prescribed therapy to be delivered. myAir™ — Resmed’s patient self-monitoring app for users with connected devices and Apple Health and/or Google Fit compatible sleep trackers — shows you the quality of sleep apnea treatment your body is getting.

Yes, most modern CPAP machines can detect when you stop breathing (known as an “apnea” event) or when your breathing becomes shallow (known as a “hypopnea” event). The CPAP machines detect your breathing patterns using airflow sensors and record the number of events throughout the night. These events are usually summarized in a report, which your doctor can review to assess the effectiveness of the CPAP therapy. Event info can also be viewed on the screen of select CPAP machines and in  myAir App.

CPAP devices are intended to be used with CPAP masks that have a mechanism to allow continuous flow of air out of the mask. When the device is turned on and functioning properly, new air from the device flushes the exhaled air out through the mask’s vent holes.

Long-term CPAP use is generally safe. Potential side effects are typically mild and quickly reversible. These include nasal dryness or congestion, skin irritation, air swallowing, mouth dryness, and rare issues such as sinus or ear pressure. Most of these can be managed effectively with the use of humidifiers, proper mask fitting, and adjustments to the device settings.

All Resmed CPAP devices and masks are safe for patients to use — provided that the patient follows the proper directions for use. Resmed has a rigorous testing protocol in place to ensure the appropriate steps are taken to put patient safety first.

It’s important to try and use your CPAP machine anytime you sleep and for the full duration of sleep to get the most out of your CPAP experience. Please note that insurance providers may also have specific usage requirements to qualify for reimbursement, so speak to your healthcare provider about the usage requirements that your insurance may have.

You can get your Resmed products (CPAP, VPAP, Masks and other accessories) in Nepal from our authorized distributor for Nepal - Matrix International Pvt. Ltd. You can whatsapp their customer representative directly by clicking here.