Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the most common and effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea. CPAP treats sleep apnoea by providing a gentle flow of positive air pressure through a mask to keep the airways open during sleep.
When CPAP is applied, air is pumped through a mask into your upper airway acting as a splint to hold your airway open so that you can breathe more normally. This prevents the upper airway from collapsing and thus prevents apnoeic events and snoring.
The above diagrams show a side view of a normal airway (1), a collapsed airway as in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) (2), and an airway when CPAP is being used (3).
When used properly, CPAP can alleviate the following symptoms caused by sleep apnoea:
