What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing stops and starts sporadically. If you consistently snore or find yourself feeling tired, even after a long night’s sleep, you may have sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles relax, blocking airflow (see graphic). Obstructive sleep apnea is a physical condition, while central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send the proper signals to muscles that control breathing. Take our quiz to find more common symptoms of sleep apnea.

So, What Is CPAP?

CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP technology is designed to aid in breathing for those with sleep apnea or other sleep disorders. There are two basic types of CPAP. Standard CPAP provides a fixed pressure, prescribed by the sleep lab, consistently through the night. This air pressure is able to open the constricted airway and allow proper breathing. Auto-Titrating CPAP is similar, but it automatically adjusts the pressure according to the obstruction. An Auto-Titrating machine is often diagnosed for patients who experience discomfort or other non-compliance with Standard CPAP.

There are also other types of PAP machines, such as BiPAP, which can switch from a starting pressure to a peak pressure on demand. Let CPAPnow help you navigate and solve your sleep issues so you can wake up feeling rested and healthy every day.