CPAP

CPAP is a small machine that delivers air at gentle pressure through a mask while you sleep. That pressure works like an air splint that keeps the airway from closing, eliminates the pauses and the snoring, and finally lets your sleep be restful. It is the most effective treatment for moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea.

The challenge with CPAP is not whether it works, but whether you use it. That is why support during the first weeks, choosing the right mask and adjusting the pressure make the difference between a machine stored in the closet and a person who sleeps well again.

• Obstructive sleep apnea confirmed by a study, moderate or severe
• Mild sleep apnea with significant symptoms or associated conditions
• People who are not candidates for surgery or prefer a non-surgical treatment
• Patients who already use CPAP and can’t adapt: there is a lot that can be adjusted
• CPAP is considered the gold-standard treatment for sleep apnea

A home sleep test that confirms and grades the sleep apnea, and an examination of the nose and airway: a blocked nose is the most common reason for not tolerating CPAP, and it can be treated.

Dr. Irina prescribes the type of machine and mask according to your anatomy and habits, adjusts the pressure (by automatic titration or with a study) and sees you during the first weeks to resolve discomfort: leaks, dryness, pressure that is too high or too low. Modern machines record usage and allow remote adjustment.

There is no recovery. Adapting usually takes a few days; during that time, close follow-up is part of the treatment. Many people notice a difference in their energy from the first nights of full use.

CPAP is safe. The usual discomforts are dryness, mask marks or a feeling of pressure, and all of them can be solved with adjustments. Alternatives when it is not tolerated: nasal or palate surgery, a mandibular advancement device or positional therapy, depending on the study and the examination.

1. 01Obstructive sleep apnea
   What it is, how it is diagnosed and what treatment options exist, explained by an otolaryngologist (ENT) with a subspecialty in sleep-disordered breathing.

Dr. Irina doesn’t just hand over a machine and say goodbye. She supports the adaptation, treats the nose if that is what keeps you from tolerating it and, when after trying it CPAP is not for you, she proposes alternatives with the same honesty.