Machines and Appliances
Some of the most widely used and effective pathways to uninterrupted sleep come not in a pill but instead in a machine or appliance placed in one’s mouth. Each of these devices is intended to keep one’s throat open for the free flow of air and the reduction (if not elimination) of sleep apnea (the sudden disruption of breathing).
CPAP Machines
The most widely used (and controversial) appliance is the C-PAP machine. I offer an overview of this machine, as well as its benefits and drawbacks as presented by the Cleveland Clinic (2024):
“A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine helps treat sleep apnea. This device delivers continuous air through your mouth and/or nose to help keep your airways open while you sleep. A CPAP machine includes: A mask that fits over just your nose or both your nose and mouth. Straps to position the mask on your face. A tube that connects the mask to the machine’s motor. A motor that blows air into the tube. An air filter that purifies the air entering your nose or mouth. Some CPAP machines have other features as well, like heated humidifiers and adjustable pressure settings.
A CPAP machine is just one type of PAP (positive airway pressure) device. CPAP is the most common among these machines. Other types include:
Auto CPAP: This device self-regulates, using a range of pressures to keep your airways open.
Bi-level PAP: This machine uses two different pressures — a higher pressure while breathing in (inhalation) and a lower one while breathing out (exhalation).
Auto-bilevel PAP: This machine self-regulates the inhalation and exhalation pressures.
Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV): ASV is for people with certain types of central sleep apnea. ASV monitors your breathing and adjusts the pressures to make your breathing more stable. It may also deliver a breath when necessary.”
The Cleveland Clinic goes on to identify the functions served by this sleep-aid device:
“CPAP machines treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In OSA, you briefly stop breathing while you sleep when your airways relax so much that they narrow down or completely close. This can happen hundreds of times in a single night, leading to a lack of oxygen. Using a CPAP machine when you sleep keeps your airways open, so you don’t stop breathing.”
The operations of the CPAP machine are then described:
“A CPAP machine takes in room air, then filters and pressurizes it before delivering it through a tube and into your mask. The continuous flow of air gently keeps your tongue, uvula and soft palate from shifting too far into your airway. This stabilizes your breathing and improves your overall sleep quality.”
