Quick Links
- Good Sleep Hygiene
- Sleeping Less As You Grow Older
- Sleeping & Child Obesity
- Sleep Talking
- Before Your Sleep Appointment
- Austin Sleep Apnea
- Types of Sleep Apnea
- Restless Legs Syndrome
- Secondary RLS
- Restless Legs Syndrome Medications
- Narcolepsy
- Insomnia
- Austin Sleep Study
- Tips for Better Sleep
- Sleep Apnea - Most Common
- Restless Legs Syndrome Treatment
- Sleep Disorder Consultation
- Austin Sleep Doctors
- Austin Sleep Lab
- Sleep Apnea Consultation
- Sleep Disorder Treatment
- Sleep Apnea Treatment
- Sleep Equipment
- CPAP, BiPAP, & AutoPAP
Comfortable Rooms
Our sleep clinic is designed to be warm and soothing so you can feel comfortable and get the most out of your sleep study.
The Differences Between CPAP, BiPAP and AutoCPAP for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
There are three types of sleep apnea. The therapies that will be discussed in this article relate only to Obstructive Sleep Apnea; the most common and understood form of sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder that manifests when a person is asleep. When we sleep all the muscles in our body relax. For some people the throat muscles relax too much and the airway becomes almost fully closed. As a result, the airflow that is received by the lungs is insufficient and breathing may stop for periods of ten seconds or more. When this occurs the body responds in a couple of ways. Brain activity will increase and the person will partially or fully wake up and start breathing properly again, and the oxygen level in the blood may drop. A person with sleep apnea may experience this more than five times an hour, all night long. A sleep apnea sufferer will have a really lousy night's sleep and wake up tired in the morning.
PAP Therapy - An alternative to surgery
For those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, the good news is that it is well understood by doctors; both the disorder and the treatment. The even better news is that most people respond to a non-invasive therapy known as positive airway pressure (PAP), and do not need to resort to surgery.
Positive airway pressure therapy delivers a pressurized stream of air into the throat (airway) as you sleep so that your airway stays open and you can breathe more easily. A typical PAP machine comprises a face mask that covers the nose (these vary in size), an air pump and a hose that connects the mask to the pump. Sleep apnea sufferers put on the face mask at bedtime and a steady stream of air with help seal the mask to their face. Once the mask is in place the airflow will be maintained at a particular pressure so that the airway is splinted open.
There are three different types of positive airway pressure treatments currently being used to treat sleep apnea patients. Depending on the results of your sleep study and what forms of PAP therapy your Doctor prescribes will decide which one of these you will use.
The Three Common Types of Positive Airway Pressure Treatment for Sleep Apnea
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Through the use of the machine described earlier in this article, those patients prescribed continuous positive airway pressure therapy will have air blowing at a particular continuous pressure while they are wearing the mask. The word "continuous" indicates that the air pressure does not change at all, but stays the same the entire time the user is attached to the machine. In most cases, your sleep doctor will have you participate in a sleep study to determine the required air pressure. A sleep study is an overnight stay in a sleep laboratory where your sleep patterns are monitored by technicians, and the results recorded. Through research, doctors have discovered the pressure of air that provides the best results for most people. The pressure is usually measured in centimeters of water (cm H2O). The pressure required by most patients with sleep apnea ranges between 6 and 14 cm H2O and a typical CPAP machine can deliver pressures between 4 and 20 cm H2O. More specialized units can deliver pressures up to 25 or 30 cm H2O. Sleep apnea is an ongoing condition. You may find that over time further sleep studies are necessary to give your sleep doctor the information he/she needs to maintain the correct rate of air pressure flowing from your CPAP machine.
CPAP machines are in common usage and although originally intended for home use, you will find them frequently in the intensive care unit of many hospitals. Sleep apnea is an ongoing condition.
Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP)
Bilevel positive airway pressure (also referred to as variable positive airway pressure VPAP) provides two different air pressure levels. One level is maintained during the inhalation of breath and a slightly lower pressure is set for exhalation to make exhalation easier. Bilevel positive airway pressure machines usually have 3 different modes. One is a spontaneous mode where the machine switches to inhalation air pressure level when it detects the patient inhaling, and then cycles back to exhalation level. The second is a timed mode where the machine is set at a particular rate of breaths per minute and proceeds to switch between inhalation and exhalation levels based on that rate. The third is a combination of spontaneous and timed modes; the machine switches to inhalation levels when it detects the patient inhaling and then cycles to exhalation, but it also has a backup timed mode ready to take over if the patient stops breathing spontaneously.
Automatic Positive Airway Pressure (AutoCPAP)
Automatic positive airway pressure is the most finely tuned method of positive airway pressure therapy. While wearing the machine, the resistance in each breath the patient takes is measured and the machine responds to that exact pressure, adjusting to a higher or lower pressure as needed. The machine is calibrated to deliver the minimum amount of air pressure required for the patient to maintain an unobstructed airway. AutoCPAP gives the patient the precise pressure required at a given moment, thereby avoiding the compromise of fixed pressure.
Benefits of Positive Airway Pressure Therapy
The greatest benefit of positive airway pressure therapy is that it is non-invasive. No drugs need be taken or surgery undergone. There are virtually no side effects from this therapy and definitely no serious ones. Side effects may include a runny nose, nasal congestion or rhinitis. People with facial hair may find it is difficult to get a good seal between the mask and their face. It can also take a few weeks to adjust to wearing the mask, however there are many different types of masks available. After some experimentation most patients find a mask that fits comfortably. Many machines are now very portable and lightweight, so they can be used with ease when traveling. Upon starting therapy patients often notice an immediate improvement in sleep quality and quality of life. Frequently, the patient's sleep partner also benefits, as PAP therapy can end the loud snoring that is associated with sleep apnea.
Sleep Equipment Costs
CPAP machines start at $400+, when you add in mask and hose costs. AutoCPAP machines are a bit more expensive starting at around $600 and BiPAP machines start at $1000 and head all the way up to $3000. Your PAP machine should be partly covered by your insurance, and although you can purchase machines at reduced rates online, you are likely to end up doing the paperwork for reimbursement from your insurance company personally.