Is it time for more than one constant positive airway pressure?
In the last 20 years, most sleep apnea patients have been treated more or less with one individual but constant level of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). New insights into CPAP- and bilevel PAP-therapy employing auto CPAP (APAP) devices might change our attitude. Readings of the pressure profiles from APAPs teach us that the needed pressure levels are constantly changing during the night and on a day-to-day basis as the patient's daily performance and alcohol consumption change too. A new approach to CPAP therapy is discussed.
O'Brien
James
J
TalkAboutSleep, Inc, Germantown, Tennessee, USA. jobrien@talkaboutsleep.com
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000379:methods*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*