CPAP ... or continuous positive airway pressure ...
is a machine that helps you breathe better while you sleep.
It's the most common treatment for sleep apnea, a problem that causes your breathing to get blocked during sleep.
Here's how it works ...
When you're ready to go to sleep, you put on a mask.
The mask may cover your nose and mouth ... or it may only cover your nose.
If it's the right size, it'll fit comfortably on your face ...
and air won't leak out from around the mask.
The mask attaches to the machine with a flexible tube.
When you turn on the machine, it gently blows air through the tube and into your airway.
This puts pressure on your airway ... which keeps it from collapsing and getting blocked as you breathe in.
When your airway is kept open like this, you get the air you need.
When you breathe out, the air and carbon dioxide go through an opening in the mask.
Your doctor ... or the care provider who helped set up your CPAP ...
can adjust how much air the machine gives you ... so you get the right amount.
Using CPAP can seem like a hassle at first, and ... it needs to be used every night.
But it's important to think about what it can do for you.
It can help protect your heart and your health, and it can give you a good night's sleep.
You'll wake up more rested ... and you may have more energy during the day and feel less grumpy or cranky.
Now ... a CPAP machine can take some getting used to.
If you're having problems or feel so uncomfortable that you want to stop using it ...
talk to your doctor or a care provider who works with CPAP machines.
You may be able to try a different mask or make other changes to help you sleep comfortably through the night.
You can look forward to how much better you'll feel when you wake up each morning.
