Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is one of the most common and effective treatments for obstructive sleep apnoea. It involves a hose being connected to a mask, which delivers constant and steady air pressure to help the individual breathe, while they sleep.
Although many CPAP users benefit from the treatment, some individuals struggle with adhering to the use of CPAP or are not willing to use it due to believing that the CPAP will cause discomfort during sleep and be too bulky and loud, and as a result, might further hinder their sleep. There is also sometimes stigma and embarrassment regarding CPAP use, causing some further resistance.
However, Dr. Moira Junge, the CEO of the Sleep Health Foundation, discusses how quiet, compact and streamlined CPAP devices have become. As a society we need to work to increase adherence to, and tolerance for, CPAP devices as they are a very important tool in the treatment and management of sleep apnoea. Correct use of CPAP can reduce or remove snoring and apnoea, improve sleep quality and quantity, and increase alertness, health and productivity.