FAQs - Nasal CPAP

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was first described in 1981 as a simple and effective way of treating obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the result of an obstructed (blocked) airway. Your breathing muscles continue to function, but because of the obstruction, no air is able to move into or out of your lungs.

During sleep, control of breathing is different from that of wakefulness. The muscles relax and the body exerts less effort to breathe. As a result of this decreased muscle control, the tongue can fall back or the soft palate may collapse, blocking the airway.

You experience an episode of apnea when there is no movement of air into or out of your lungs. These apnea episodes can last from only seconds to over a minute, and may occur hundreds of times throughout the night.

This lack of deep, restful sleep causes excessive daytime sleepiness and puts extra stress on your heart and other major organs.

Nasal CPAP involves wearing a mask over your nose or "nasal pillows", which are inserted into our nostrils. A blower in the unit gently pushes air into the mask or pillows. The flow of air causes a slight pressure build up in your airways. This pressure acts as a "pneumatic splint", keeping your airways open. This allows you to breathe normally and returns you to a normal sleep pattern.

Your doctor has prescribed the level of pressure needed to keep your airways open while you sleep. Your nasal CPAP unit has been pre-set by Certified Provider of Airway Products to deliver the prescribed pressure.

There are many different models of nasal CPAP equipment. However, all models operate on the same basic principles and have the same basic parts:
1. ON/OFF switch
   Turns the unit on or off
2. Air Inlet and Filter
   Air enters the unit and is filtered
3. Air Outlet
   Filtered air leaves the unit
4. Nasal CPAP Circuit
   Tubing attaches to the outlet port On one end, with the mask or nasal pillows at the other end