Some studies suggest that CPAP treatment can be associated with weight gain during initial therapy. Weight loss is mainly recommended as an additional treatment alongside other interventions.

Continuous negative external pressure (cNEP) is an investigational treatment for OSA. Unlike many PAP devices though, cNEP machines do not use a mask and do not cover the nose or mouth.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that leads to frequent pauses in breathing during sleep, potentially resulting in low oxygen levels, daytime tiredness and other health concerns, such as type 2 diabetes, heart attacks and strokes.

It may take a few months, but the good news is that when your CPAP treatment does start working for you, you will feel less tired and better than you have in awhile.

If disrupted sleep regularly interferes with your daily activities, you should seek professional help to get a diagnosis. Your primary care provider may refer you to a sleep specialist. Sleep specialists can have different backgrounds: They are neurologists, pulmonologists, or psychiatrists specifically trained in sleep medicine.

While CPAP is helpful for many people with obstructive sleep apnea, some people don’t respond to this type of treatment.

Figuring out where to start in your sleep apnea treatment journey can feel daunting. To ease the process, we’ve put together this guide that covers everything you need to know about shopping for a CPAP machine.

CPAP cannot be used in individuals who are not spontaneously breathing. Patients with poor respiratory drive need invasive ventilation or non-invasive ventilation with CPAP plus additional pressure support and a backup rate (BiPAP).

There may arise rare instances of respiratory distress where a hospitalized patient would greatly benefit from CPAP but does not tolerate the mask or is not complaint due to delirium, agitation or factors such as very young age in children or the elderly. In such scenarios, mild sedation with low dose fentanyl or dexmedetomidine can be used to improve compliance, until the therapy is no longer indicated.

For patients using CPAP in the outpatient setting at home, it is important to wear it regularly while asleep overnight and during daytime naps.

My machine is set on 6 -the lowest setting! I have had several surgeries to help w sleep apnea. Should I change the ramp time? Right now it is at 20 minutes. I have the ResMed Airsense 10. I am going to try a new machine -mine has been dropped too many times & I travel alot!

Regular aerobic exercise can benefit sleep apnea symptoms, whether weight loss is involved or not, says more info Dr. Cacho. Researchers aren’t exactly sure why exercise is helpful in reducing sleep apnea symptoms with or without weight loss, but one theory is that exercise may improve sleep quality.

Many say that after becoming adjusted to their CPAP machine, the renewed energy and invigorating focus they have far outweighs any minor discomfort they experienced. 

See how your sleep habits and environment measure up and gauge how adjusting behavior can improve sleep quality.