Sleep Apnea Machines – BiPAP vs. CPAP

Posted in Sleep Apnea Machines on November 7th, 2009 by Sleep Apnea Devices – Be the first to comment

If you suffer from sleep apnea, there are two kinds of sleep apnea machines that your doctor can prescribe for this sleeping disorder: a BiPAP or CPAP machine. Which one would be ideal for you?

BiPAP vs. CPAP – The Differences

CPAP machines are created to improve the overall pressure whenever you breathe to make sure your mouth, nose and throat airways remain open as you sleep. This proves to be extremely useful to a lot of people that suffer from sleep apnea and stop breathing a couple of times every night.

BiPAP machines, on the flip side, might be useful, too. Although they use similar setups to CPAP machines with their masks, tubing and overall machinery, BiPAP machines make use of different settings. While CPAP machines make use of a single pressure, BiPAP machines make use of two, known as exhalation pressure and inhalation pressure.

While CPAP machines work whenever the user breathes in, BiPAP machines offer more assistance when it comes to breathing. These machines are usually prescribed to patients that suffer from serious lung and heart diseases like congestive heart failure. People that suffer from muscle and nerve problems might also avail of more benefits from BiPAP machines than CPAP machines.

BiPAP machines are preset with dual settings that monitor exhaling and inhaling pressures. If a sleeping person doesn’t breathe for particular amounts of time, BiPAP machines will increase their pressure to force that person to breathe. Several higher level machines of CPAP can do this, too. Such These machines would require a BPM setting targeted to personal breathing needs, though.

Both of these machines are created to ensure that their users breathe in a certain amount of times every minute. One primary benefit that comes with BiPAP machines would be the decreased pressure that a person exhales. This can keep them from working too hard while breathing, offering sleep that is much more peaceful.

BiPAP machines are not noisy or big. They are specifically made to make a minimum amount of noise, so people can sleep. Plus, their humidifier inclusion makes them a more top-end machine compared to CPAP machines.

The primary difference between the two would probably be the patients’ needs. Which one would be best to aid individuals with certain breathing problems would be up to their medical recommendations and examinations. Sleep tests can be done to let doctors see which settings would be required on particular kinds of machines.

CPAP machines can be put to use if a person suffers from a mild version of sleep apnea, though. Although mild sleep apnea also proves to be a harmful condition, it would depend on sleep apnea levels to govern the required machine. Both of these machines offer certain benefits and would be essential in maintaining a sleeper’s breathing if he happens to have problems.

Sleep apnea machines are not made to be used in place of ventilators, though, since they cannot breathe for you. They just ensure that you take certain amounts of breathes every minute that doctors believes would be ideal for you. After several tests to find out which amount would be perfect, doctors will recommend which machine you should use, asll well.