Key Points

• CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, is a treatment that uses mild air pressure to keep your airways open while you sleep. CPAP is used for people who have breathing problems, such as sleep apnea.
• CPAP is the most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. When this happens, not enough air reaches the lungs.
• CPAP is often the best treatment for adults who have obstructive sleep apnea. Children also can have this condition. The most common treatment for children is surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids. If symptoms don’t improve after surgery, or if the condition is severe, CPAP may be an option.
• If you have sleep apnea symptoms, your doctor may recommend an overnight sleep study. A sleep study measures how much and how well you sleep. It also can show whether you have sleep problems and how severe they are. Your doctor will likely refer you to a sleep specialist for the sleep study.
• Your sleep specialist will review the results from your sleep study. If CPAP will benefit you, your sleep specialist will prescribe the type of CPAP machine and the correct settings for you. Once you have your CPAP prescription, you will work with someone from a home equipment provider to select a CPAP machine that meets your needs.
• CPAP is a long-term treatment. Many people have questions when they first start using it. Talk to your sleep specialist about how to handle followup questions. He or she can answer some questions, but your home equipment provider may need to address others.
• To achieve the full benefits of CPAP, use it every time you sleep—during naps and at night. Most people should use CPAP for at least 7.5 hours each night for the best results.
• CPAP has many benefits. It can:
  • Keep your airways open while you sleep
  • Correct snoring so others in your household can sleep
  • Improve the quality of your sleep
  • Relieve symptoms of sleep apnea, such as excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Decrease or prevent high blood pressure
• With CPAP, you may fall asleep faster and wake fewer times during the night. The pauses in breathing that are typical with sleep apnea won’t interrupt your sleep.
• Many people who use CPAP report feeling better once they begin treatment. They feel more attentive and better able to work during the day. They also report fewer complaints from bed partners about snoring and sleep disruption.