Sleep apnea is characterized by interruptions in breath called apneas. It causes your breathing to become shallow or even stop. This pause lasts for 10-20 seconds and occurs 20-30 times or more in an hour. The most common type of sleep apnea is the Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) where enough air cannot flow through the nose or mouth and the air passage is blocked. The second type is the Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) that is caused due to anomalies in the brain?s commands for breathing.
Sleep apnea is treated with the help of a piece of equipment called Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). Other machines like Variable Positive Airway Pressure (VPAP) and Automatic Positive Airway Pressure (APAP) are also used. Some of the companies that manufacture these pieces of equipment are Respironics, Puritan Bennett, Fisher & Paykel, ResMed, Tiara and Viasys.
Respironics manufactures them under the brand name Remstar, Puritan Bennett uses the name Good Night and ResMed are the manufacturers of Auto Set Vantage.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure equipment generates air at a constant pressure using a compressor. The pressure varies from person to person. This air is pumped to the person through a headgear that is worn by him covering his nose and mouth. These breathing aids are available in the price range of 9 - 0. Those with humidifiers cost more and those without humidifiers are less expensive.
Variable Positive Airway Pressure or VPAP equipment is also known as BiPAP. It uses an electronic circuit to monitor a person?s breathing and it provides different air pressures for inhalation and exhalation, inhalation having the higher one. This equipment is usually used on patients with other respiratory illnesses apart from apnea. The BiPAP machines are priced 00 upwards. The models with humidifiers cost more.
Automatic Positive Airway Pressure or APAP is the most advanced form of apnea treatment. It includes pressure sensors and a computer that continuously monitors the person?s breathing and increases or decreases the pressure accordingly. The average price of APAP machine ranges from 0 to 0. As with the other models those with humidifiers cost more.
The accessories needed for using sleep apnea treatment equipment include a headgear, nasal mask and humidifier. Some persons experience the drying up of the mucous membrane. The humidifier is used to bring back the moisture. The nasal mask and headgear are used to provide pressurized air to the person. The nasal mask is priced at around 0- 0. Nowadays machines having only a nasal mask are available. This is more convenient than the traditional headgear that covers that whole head and causes discomfort.
