CPAP therapy
CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. It is the main treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea – a condition that causes your airways to close repeatedly during sleep, blocking the passage of air to your lungs. A CPAP machine provides pressurised air to hold your airways open, allowing you to gain a refreshing sleep.
Also in this section: What is a CPAP machine?, CPAP masks, Maintaining your CPAP equipment, What are the health benefits of CPAP?, The CPAP way of life.
Treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
If you have Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, the first treatment option is CPAP. However, if you can’t tolerate CPAP, there are a range of other therapies that can reduce the severity of your sleep apnoea and help you to gain refreshing sleep.
Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
If you have Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, the best treatment is CPAP. However, if you can’t tolerate CPAP you may be offered upper airway surgery that can open or remodel your airways and reduce the severity of your sleep apnoea.
Treatments for Central Sleep Apnoea
The best treatment for Central Sleep Apnoea is Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP). BiPAP can force you to take a breath when your lungs fail to inflate during sleep. If you have abnormal breathing patterns in addition to Central Sleep Apnoea, Adaptive Servo-Ventilation may be the best treatment.
Tips on getting a good night’s sleep
Sleep is a very valuable commodity and should be treated as such. Regardless of whether you have a sleep disorder it is important to keep to a regular sleep pattern. Here are some simple tips that everyone should follow to achieve good quality, refreshing sleep.
Weight loss
The number of adults classed as being overweight or obese is steadily increasing year on year around the world. If you are overweight or obese you are at risk of developing Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, as the excess fatty tissue tends to narrow your airways.
Also in this section: Are you overweight?, The effects of weight loss, Diet and activity, Medical help with weight loss.
