A 30-year-old member asked:
Does a cpap breathing machine keep your throat airway open?
3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Gary Ledermananswered
Dentistry 41 years experience
No: The purpose of the CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) is to overcome the obstruction to breathing. Mandibular advancement devices (mads) open the airway by holding the lower jaw in a forward position, opening the posterior pharyngeal airway. Research is showing the benefit of combining CPAP and mads to reduce the pressure needed to manage osa.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Nathaniel Pascualanswered
Sleep Medicine 30 years experience
Yes -that's the idea: Continuous positive airway pressure (cpap), in theory, acts like an "air splint" - keeping the soft, floppy part of the airway open when you inhale. The upper airway is like a floppy tube. If you inhale on one end, the tube will collapse. CPAP helps prevent this. The pressure, however, needs to be adjusted for each individual as the requirements vary from person to person.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Vikas Jainanswered
Sleep Medicine 14 years experience
Yes: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a highly effective therapy that uses air pressure to prop the upper airway
open during sleep, thus preventing the upper airway from collapsing. CPAP machines work by pumping room air through a
compressor that is connected by a hose to a mask that is worn over or against the nose.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jul 3, 2019
People also asked
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
24/7 visits - just $39!
50% off with $15/month membership
Disclaimer:
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.