A sleep apnea machine sends a stream of air pressure into your nose or mouth as you sleep, keeping your airway open and making it easier to breathe. It’s the most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder that causes lapses in breathing during sleep. It can lead to snoring, daytime sleepiness and other health problems. In some people, CPAP therapy reduces or eliminates these problems.

Choosing the Right Sleep Apnea Machine for Effective Treatment

Several different types of CPAP machines are available, and the best one for you may take some trial and error to find out which size and style is comfortable for you. A CPAP machine includes a mask, which fits over your face. The mask may come in various styles, including full masks that cover the nose and mouth, nasal pillows that gently hug your nostrils, or a simple cushion that you put on your nose. It’s also important to get a tube that connects the mask to the CPAP machine, which in turn pumps heated and humidified air into your mouth or nose.

Some CPAP machines have an autotitration feature, which automatically checks your breathing throughout the night and adjusts the machine’s pressure settings to your needs. Other CPAP models are called BiPAP (bi-level positive airflow pressure). They use two pressure settings, one for inhaling and a lower pressure for exhaling. These machines are generally prescribed for people who have central sleep apnea. Other therapies include a timed mode that inflates the lungs on a set schedule and an oral appliance, which looks like a retainer and works by moving the tongue and soft palate forward.