CPAP Benefits

Heart Health

Research suggests that CPAP therapy may improve cardiovascular health Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source in people with obstructive sleep apnea, though more research is needed.

• Blood pressure: Studies show that CPAP therapy lowers blood pressure, even if the CPAP user did not have high blood pressure before beginning treatment. Keeping blood pressure in a healthy range reduces the risk of stroke and heart disease.
• Arrhythmia: Heart arrhythmias are events where the heart beats too slow, too fast, or irregularly. Early research suggests that CPAP use can reduce the occurrence of nighttime arrhythmias.
• Heart failure: A number of small studies have found that the use of CPAP improves the heart’s ability to pump blood and may reduce the risk of heart failure. In patients diagnosed with heart failure, CPAP therapy may help improve heart function.

Lower Stroke Risk

Some research suggests that treating obstructive sleep apnea may lower a person’s risk of having a stroke. This may be because CPAP therapy lowers high blood pressure, a risk factor for stroke.

Many people who have a stroke also have obstructive sleep apnea. Limited research suggests that CPAP treatment may improve health outcomes in people with sleep apnea who have had a stroke.

Experts agree that more research is needed to understand the relationship between CPAP therapy and stroke.

Less Daytime Sleepiness

Because sleep apnea can disrupt sleep or reduce the total amount of time spent sleeping at night, the disorder can lead to daytime sleepiness. Daytime sleepiness refers to being unusually sleepy during portions of the day when people normally feel alert and awake. Some people with sleep apnea experience excessive daytime sleepiness where symptoms of daytime sleepiness persist for three months or more.

Most people undergoing CPAP therapy experience a decrease in daytime sleepiness. Some research suggests that as many as 75% of people Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source who use CPAP therapy for obstructive sleep apnea resolve their daytime sleepiness symptoms. The number of hours a person uses CPAP and the severity of daytime sleepiness may influence how well therapy works.

CPAP therapy for OSA may also improve daytime alertness. Initial findings indicate that CPAP users may experience improved performance, memory, and concentration.

Lower Risk of Car Accidents

Insufficient sleep caused by obstructive sleep apnea is linked to a higher risk of vehicle accidents Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source . Without enough quality sleep, people respond slower, have greater difficulty making decisions, and struggle to focus on simultaneous tasks, all of which affect driving. Treating OSA is key to preventing these accidents.

Drivers who use CPAP therapy are at a much lower risk for near-miss accidents and vehicle crashes. The effectiveness of CPAP treatment in preventing car accidents depends on a person consistently using CPAP.

Improved Mental Health

People with untreated obstructive sleep apnea are at greater risk for mental health issues including depression, moodiness, and irritability. Some studies suggest that there is also an association between sleep apnea and anxiety Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .

Research has demonstrated that regular use of CPAP therapy to treat sleep apnea can lessen symptoms of depression Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Some studies have also found that people who use their CPAP machine as prescribed may experience less depression Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . More research is needed to understand the effect of CPAP for OSA on improvements in mental health.

Less Snoring

Snoring is among the most common obstructive sleep apnea symptoms. People living with OSA who snore are sometimes unaware of the behavior. However, snoring can be disruptive to people who share a room or bed with a person with sleep apnea.

Snoring occurs when the airway narrows and the tissues in the airway vibrate. Because a CPAP mask prevents the airway from closing, many people with obstructive sleep apnea who use CPAP experience less snoring. In some cases, snoring may completely resolve.

Deciding if CPAP Is Right for You

CPAP is considered the most effective therapy for obstructive sleep apnea, though the treatment may not be appropriate for everyone. People considering CPAP as a treatment for their sleep apnea can choose to perform an at-home sleep study and should talk with their doctor about the risks and benefits of the therapy.

For some people, such as adults over the age of 80, CPAP therapy may be less effective. Other CPAP users may experience side effects such as aerophagia or excess swallowing of air, facial discomfort, and dryness in the nose or mouth. These side effects can make it difficult for some users to continue with therapy.

If you are using CPAP therapy to treat your obstructive sleep apnea and you have questions about whether the treatment is right for you, consult your health care provider and make sure to find the best CPAP machine for your needs.

Alternatives to CPAP

There are several alternatives to CPAP therapy to treat obstructive sleep apnea. Some of these approaches can be used in combination to help reduce the symptoms of OSA.

• Oral appliance: An oral appliance keeps the mouth open and the jaw forward to prevent airway obstruction. Oral appliances are the most frequently used treatment for sleep apnea aside from CPAP. For people with mild sleep apnea, oral appliances treat symptoms as effectively as CPAP.
• Changing sleep position: Back sleeping worsens the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea for more than 50% of people Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source with the disorder. Side sleeping, stomach sleeping, or back sleeping at a raised angle of 60 degrees can improve sleep apnea.
• Weight loss: Being overweight or obese increases risk for sleep apnea. There is evidence that weight loss can decrease the number of episodes of stopped breathing during sleep by 26%.
• Lifestyle changes: Avoiding alcohol or sedatives before bedtime may help relieve symptoms of sleep apnea. Additionally, improved diet and increased exercise reduce the severity of sleep apnea.
• Surgery: Some people with obstructive sleep apnea who do not respond to other treatments may benefit from surgery. Possible surgeries include the removal of the tonsils or excess throat tissue, repositioning of the jaw, and removal of nasal obstructions.

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