Many patients are confused on how using a cpap unit will help them sleep better. However, the concept behind the therapy is actually very simple.
People who have obstructive sleep apnea have very poor quality of sleep. The reason for this is due to their airway becoming obstructed during sleep and there is no passage of air into or out of the lungs. This is when a person is said to stop breathing. It is not difficult to see that if this pattern continues throughout the night, the individual will not rest very well at all. This cessation of breathing throughout the night keeps the body from going into REM sleep, which is the stage of sleep where the body restores and repairs itself. By staying out of REM sleep, the body will not be very well rested, and the individual will be very sleepy/tired the next day and will progressively get worse over time.
So how does the sleep apnea machine alleviate this?
Simply put, the machine is merely an air blower that has the capability to blow a precise amount of pressure. No more no less. The amount of air it puts out is calculated when the person has their sleep study. The home cpap machine is then set to that optimal pressure. The air that comes out the unit simply splints the airway open and keeps it from becoming obstructed. In doing that, it allows the person to stay asleep and lets the body enter REM stage where the body will begin to rest and repair itself. When the person wakes up, they will feel more rested and have more energy throughout the day. That’s it! There really isn’t much more to understand how the sleep apnea machine helps you to achieve a better night’s rest. It really is simple stuff.
Many first time users are under the misconception that the unit will provide them with supplemental oxygen. I cannot stress this enough; it does not! Like it was stated earlier, the sleep apnea machine simply puts out air that will maintain a patent airway. Although it should be acknowledged that there are people who require use of supplemental oxygen in conjunction with their cpap machine, that’s a more in depth discussion for a different post.
Hopefully, this will shed a little more light for those who were still confused on how their sleep apnea machine helps them sleep better. It is a simple concept with amazing results for those who suffer from OSA. If you are still unclear about using a cpap unit, please consult your physician.
