Quick Takeaways
- CPAP therapy uses gentle, pressurized air to keep your airway
open during sleep, helping support easier breathing and more restful
sleep.1 - Consistent CPAP use may help improve energy, focus, heart health
and mood, while reducing symptoms like snoring and daytime
fatigue.2 - It can take some time to get used to CPAP therapy, but many
people report feeling better once they become comfortable using
it.2 - Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most effective
treatment for adults with OSA. Alternative treatment options may be
available if CPAP is not the right fit.3
Understanding sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing stops and restarts many
times throughout the night.3,4 These breathing pauses can
make it harder for your body to get enough oxygen. It can also affect
the quality of your sleep
Types and diagnosis
The two main types of sleep apnea include:4
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Obstructive sleep
apnea is a condition where your upper airway becomes blocked repeatedly
during sleep. These blockages can reduce or completely stop the flow of
air, causing your breathing to pause throughout the night. - Central sleep apnea (CSA). Central sleep apnea
is a condition where your brain doesn’t send signals to the muscles that
control breathing, causing breathing to pause during sleep.- Treatment-emergent central sleep apnea (TECSA).
For people living with TECSA, breathing pauses continue even after sleep
apnea treatment begins. Instead of an airway blockage, these pauses
occur because the brain does not send the signal to
breathe.5
- Treatment-emergent central sleep apnea (TECSA).
If your doctor thinks you might be at risk of sleep apnea, they may
prescribe an overnight sleep test to help make a diagnosis. This test
collects information from your body as you sleep, including your
breathing patterns and oxygen levels. A sleep test can be done at home
or in a sleep lab.6
The information from the sleep test helps your doctor determine if
you have a sleep condition like sleep apnea.6 It can also
help them find out which type of sleep apnea you have and its
severity.
Common causes and risk factors
Sleep apnea is a common condition — nearly 1 billion people are
living with sleep apnea across the globe7 — with a variety of
causes and risk factors. For some people, it’s caused by unique body
structures such as a smaller airway. Sleep apnea can also be genetic,
meaning your family history could play a part in your diagnosis.
Risk factors for sleep apnea include:
- Excess weight. Fat deposits around your neck and
throat can put pressure on your airway, making it
narrower.8 - Age. As you get older, changes to the soft
palate in your mouth and the structures around your upper airway can
affect how you breathe. As a result, the likelihood of sleep apnea can
increase with age. - Certain health conditions. Conditions including
diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and mental health
disorders, such as anxiety and depression, can also be risk factors for
sleep apnea.9
If you have sleep apnea, you may want to avoid behaviors such as
smoking and alcohol use.8 These substances relax your muscles
and cause inflammation in your airway, which can worsen your symptoms.
The same can happen when you take medications designed for muscle
relaxation, including certain sedatives and
tranquilizers.8
How sleep apnea impacts health and wellbeing
Untreated sleep apnea can increase your risk for conditions like
heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.9 And because sleep
apnea tends to disrupt your sleep, it can largely impact other areas of
your life. You might notice changes in your mood, memory and ability to
focus.8, 11,12 Over time, these symptoms can also affect your
relationships and your job performance.
Untreated sleep apnea can also increase your risk of workplace or
motor vehicle accidents.13 In one study, researchers found
that people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were almost twice as
likely to have an accident on the job.14
That’s why it’s important to get treatment — it may help lower your
risk of other health conditions, reduce your likelihood of a workplace
or traffic accident, and help you feel more rested and alert. Many
people who use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy — the
most used and understood method for treating sleep apnea — report a
higher overall quality of life.15
What is CPAP therapy, and how does it work?
If you have sleep apnea, there’s a good chance your doctor will
recommend continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. It’s a
drug-free sleep apnea treatment with virtually no side
effects.2 When used as directed, CPAP therapy can help
alleviate OSA symptoms after the first night of use.17