Understanding sleep apnea and CPAP
Plain-language answers to the questions patients ask us most.
What is sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is when the airway narrows or closes repeatedly during sleep because the throat muscles and soft tissues relax. Each pause can lower oxygen levels and briefly wake the brain.
Common symptoms: loud snoring; breathing interruptions noticed by a partner; waking up gasping or choking; daytime sleepiness; morning headaches; poor concentration and memory.
Why treat sleep apnea?
Untreated OSA is linked with daytime fatigue and a higher risk of conditions such as high blood pressure. Only a professional evaluation, usually including a sleep study, can confirm the diagnosis and its severity. Your physician then recommends a treatment that suits you.
What is CPAP?
CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. A small bedside machine draws in room air, filters it, and sends it through a tube and mask at a set pressure, measured in cmH₂O. Auto-adjusting machines (APAP) vary the pressure within a range your physician sets.
Why CPAP?
The steady air pressure acts like a splint that helps keep the airway open, so breathing can continue normally through the night. It works while you use it, so regular nightly use, a well-fitting mask and a clean machine matter.
How severity is described: the AHI
Sleep studies report the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI): the average number of breathing pauses or reductions per hour of sleep. Commonly used adult ranges:
This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.
Think you might have sleep apnea?
A sleep study is the way to find out. Our technologists run them in our lab or at home.