CPAP THERAPY
The standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is to use a machine that helps to keep your airway open while you sleep. This is possible with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

A constant flow of pressurized room air is provided by CPAP via a face mask. Portable travel CPAP devices are also available.

A doctor will often determine the pressure setting of this airflow based on your needs. This can be assessed as part of a sleep study or estimated based on risk factors such as anatomy and weight.

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BiPAP THERAPY
Bilevel, or BiPAP, therapy is similar, but it differs significantly. The manufacturer Respironics trademarked the abbreviation BiPAP for bilevel positive airway pressure.

The "bilevel" component refers to the fact that there are two pressure levels that the machine can alternate between. This enables you to breathe in at a higher pressure and exhale at a slightly lower pressure.

This may help those who are having difficulty adjusting to CPAP. It may help with air swallowing (called aerophagia). It may also aid in the treatment of claustrophobia.

Do i need CPAP or BiPAP?
The most common type of obstructive sleep apnea is usually treated with CPAP or AutoCPAP. Bilevel, or BiPAP, is more commonly used to treat central sleep apnea, which is characterized by breathing pauses without airway obstruction.

Central sleep apnea may be more common in people who have had heart failure, a stroke, or who use narcotic pain medications on a regular basis. It can sometimes be caused by the CPAP itself, but this rarely lasts more than a few months.

The BiPAP device may be set to compensate for these pauses in breathing by kicking in an extra breath as needed.

Some devices are quite sophisticated, varying the airflow that is delivered to compensate for respiratory and neuromuscular disorders that affect breathing as well. These disorders include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and other conditions.