Guest guest Posted February 7, 2000 Report Share Posted February 7, 2000 what exactly is a c-pap machine? i see alot of posts on it. how does it work. still waiting on fehlings call.... dak -- | / \(!!) Dakota / / ICQ-3404154 Only in Canada,can a pizza get to your house faster than an Ambulance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2000 Report Share Posted February 8, 2000 ncc: c-paps > what exactly is a c-pap machine? i see alot of posts on it. how does it > work. > CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and was originally invented by Dr. Sullivan, Sydney Australia and is used, in various newer forms, all over the world, nowadays. It is usually handled by a nasal mask which forces air down your nasal passages in order to keep the airways open. This works efficiently when the reason for the closed airways is the soft pallette at the back of the throat collapsing when asleep, thus causing you to stop breathing. Unfortunately, not everyone int he world is able to get benefit from it but at last count, that was assessed to be about 8% of people worldwide. There are variants of the original idea now that include machines that only give the smallest pressure when not needed to give more and ramp up the pressure when it becomes evident that it is needed and also full face masks. If you ever get told you have sleep apnea, be aware that a lot of doctors will try and force you to undergo an operation. Current leading medical opinion backed by statistics prove that excepting the tracheostomy, there isnt another operation for sleep apnea worth a pinch of poop and in most cases the other operations actually cause more problems and dont help with the original. The tracheostomy, however, is the only operation that has a good success rate, also in the 90% region. That is, some 10% approx derive no benefits from it. It's drawback is that it means a tube in your neck 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that can cause you lots of other probs if not kept scrupulously clean and you can never swim in water that would cover the tube nor have a bath without being extremely careful. Showers are much better but even then you are advised to buy a raincoat and cut it down so that you can wear it like a plastic collar over the tube. These are some of the reasons that a CPAP (or variant) is the best idea if you can take it. chows@... Australia Chow Addiction Society Founder and Lifetime Member #1 Are you OLD when you enjoy a good headbanger song with others over 40? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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