Yes. A medical device called a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure system is used to treat sleep apnea. A CPAP system is actually a computer-controlled pump, and a prescription from a physician is required to purchase one. The website maintained by the American Sleep Apnea Association provides more information. Sleep apnea is serious and should be treated as soon as possible.
CPAP - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a medical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. It involves wearing a mask over the nose and/or mouth while sleeping, which delivers a constant flow of air to keep the airways open. This helps to prevent pauses in breathing and improve quality of sleep.
A treatment a doctor might give a patient who is suffering from sleep apnea is a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine, and the doctor might recommend the patient lose weight. The majority of people who have sleep apnea are overweight or obese.
BiPAP (Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure) machines work by controlling the amount of pressure that goes in and out of the lungs. This is most useful for those suffering from central apnea.
Both CPAP (consistent positive airway pressure) machines and mandibular advancement splints are valid treatment for certain cases of OSA (obstructive sleep apnea), but this must be supervised by a physician knowledgeable in the area.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). If you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, you may benefit from a machine that delivers air pressure through a mask placed over your nose while you sleep. With CPAP (SEE-pap), the air pressure is somewhat greater than that of the surrounding air, and is just enough to keep your upper airway passages open, preventing apnea and snoring.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)-- A ventilation device that blows a gentle stream of air into the nose during sleep to keep the airway open.
.Behavioral changes. Oxygen and drug therapy. Mechanical ventilation. Surgery. Oral appliances.
Not usually. Sleep apnea is treated with a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine that delivers pressurized room air to a mask or nasal "pillows". Some CPAP patients may also receive oxygen therapy, but this is unusual.
Yes Sleep apnea can cause very high blood pressure. Before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, I had fairly high blood pressure, and having used the CPAP machine which supplies a positive air force into the nose and lungs have allowed my blood pressure to come down remarkably. When you have uncontrolled or undiagnosed sleep apnea, it causes the heart to work quite hard, and increases the risk of getting a heart attack if it is not treated. So if you're experiencing fairly high blood pressure, and the doctor doesn't know why, then ask them about a sleep lab test, or a home sleep test, and that should be able to tell them whether or not you have this disorder.
Central Sleep Apnea is a disorder in which your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during your sleep. Central Sleep Apnea is less common than Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea