What Does CPAP Mean?
CPAP (pronounced "see-pap") stands for continuous positive airway pressure. It's the most effective noninvasive treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and for many patients, it's the first treatment their doctor will recommend.
How Does CPAP Therapy Work?
Air is pushed from the flow generator through the tubing and into the mask. That air passes through the nose (and sometimes the mouth) into the throat, where the slight positive pressure keeps the upper airway from collapsing during sleep.
A CPAP machine has three main parts:
- A mask or similar device that fits over your nose, or your nose and mouth, held in place with straps
- A tube connecting the mask to the machine's motor
- A motor that blows air through the tube
Some CPAP machines add features like heated humidifiers. Modern CPAP machines are small, lightweight, and fairly quiet, producing a soft, rhythmic sound rather than a loud hum.
CPAP is often the best treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, a common disorder that causes repeated pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep, preventing enough air from reaching the lungs. The gentle, continuous air pressure doesn't interfere with normal breathing, though some people need a few nights to adjust to the sensation of positive airflow.
What Improvements Do CPAP Users Typically Report?
Successful, consistent CPAP users commonly report improvements in:
- Vitality and motivation
- Job performance
- Mood
- Sexual drive and performance
- Alertness while driving
- Overall quality of life
- Quality of sleep
What Happens If I Don't Use My CPAP Consistently?
Skipping or avoiding CPAP therapy leaves the underlying sleep apnea untreated, which research links to a higher risk of several serious conditions, including:
- Hypertension — studies show OSA is associated with a substantially elevated risk of high blood pressure, with the exact increase varying by severity and study
- Stroke
- Congestive heart failure (CHF)
For a fuller breakdown of these risks, see our guide on Sleep Apnea Complications.
What Is an APAP Machine?
APAP stands for automatic positive airway pressure. Like CPAP, it's used to treat obstructive sleep apnea, but instead of delivering one fixed pressure all night, an APAP automatically adjusts on a breath-by-breath basis to deliver only the minimum pressure needed to keep your airway open at any given moment. APAP machines tend to be more advanced and feature-rich than standard CPAP devices.
APAP may also be called:
- Auto-adjusting CPAP
- Auto-titrating CPAP
- Self-adjusting CPAP
- Auto PAP
- Automatic CPAP
- Auto
Why Might I Prefer an APAP Over a Standard CPAP?
Some users find APAP more comfortable than fixed-pressure CPAP, since the pressure adjusts to what's actually needed moment to moment rather than staying at the highest pressure required even during periods when less would do. This can make APAP a good option for people in a physician-directed weight loss program, or anyone whose pressure needs fluctuate. Many APAP users end up with a lower average pressure overall, since the machine only delivers more pressure when it's actually needed.
What Is Bilevel (BiPAP) Therapy?
Bilevel devices can provide therapy for people with obstructive sleep apnea who've found standard CPAP too difficult to tolerate, and can also provide noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) for a range of other respiratory disorders and forms of sleep-disordered breathing.
Bilevel therapy delivers two different pressure levels:
- A higher pressure when you breathe in
- A lower pressure when you breathe out
Bilevel and CPAP differ in two key ways: Bilevel devices set two pressure levels timed to your own inhale and exhale efforts, and Bilevel therapy is used to treat a much broader range of conditions beyond OSA, making it a first-line treatment for several respiratory disorders in its own right.
What Conditions Are Commonly Treated with Bilevel Therapy?
- Nocturnal hypoventilation
- Respiratory insufficiency
- Neuromuscular disease
- Respiratory failure
- Chest wall deformity
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
- OSA*
*Bilevel therapy isn't typically the first choice for OSA specifically, but OSA patients who need high treatment pressures, or who have another respiratory condition alongside their OSA, are often good candidates for it.
Types of Bilevel Devices
- Bilevel
- Auto Bilevel
- Bilevel ST
- Adaptive Servo Ventilation
Bilevel devices may also be known as: BiPAP, Auto BiPAP, BiPAP ST, BiPAP Auto SV, VPAP (variable positive airway pressure), Auto VPAP, VPAP ST, or VPAP Adapt SV.
Browse our full range of BiLevel & BiPAP Machines or Auto-Adjusting CPAP/APAP Machines to find the right fit for your prescription.
Manufacturer Warranties
APAP, Bilevel, and CPAP machines all include a manufacturer's warranty. If your equipment malfunctions, contact our office to determine whether it's still covered, and be sure to request an RMA number. Warranty decisions are made solely by the manufacturer. You're responsible for shipping the equipment to us, and replacements or repairs can take up to four weeks; we may be able to provide a rental machine in the meantime.
Water damage and misuse aren't covered under the manufacturer warranty. If either is determined to be the cause of a malfunction, you can choose to have the machine repaired at your own cost, have it returned to you as-is at no cost, or purchase new equipment at current list pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between CPAP and APAP?
CPAP delivers one fixed pressure all night. APAP automatically adjusts pressure breath by breath to deliver only what's needed at any given moment, which some users find more comfortable.
What's the difference between CPAP and BiPAP?
CPAP delivers one continuous pressure level. BiPAP (bilevel) delivers two different pressure levels — higher on inhale, lower on exhale — and is also used to treat a wider range of respiratory conditions beyond sleep apnea.
Is BiPAP better than CPAP for sleep apnea?
Not necessarily "better" — CPAP remains the standard first-line treatment for most OSA patients. BiPAP is generally reserved for patients who find CPAP too difficult to tolerate, need higher pressures, or have an additional respiratory condition alongside their OSA.
Do I need a prescription for a CPAP, APAP, or BiPAP machine?
Yes. All CPAP, APAP, and Bilevel/BiPAP machines are regulated medical devices and require a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.
What happens if my machine breaks?
Contact our office to check your warranty status and get an RMA number. Repairs can take up to four weeks, and a rental machine may be available in the meantime. Note that water damage and misuse aren't covered under the manufacturer's warranty.
How long does it take to get used to CPAP therapy?
Many people adjust within a few nights, though the timeline varies by individual. The gentle, continuous air pressure itself doesn't interfere with normal breathing, even if the initial sensation takes some getting used to.