Continuous Airway Pressure Treatment, also known as CPAP, for short, is a treatment used for the treatment of sleep apnea, and in some cases, snoring. CPAP has proven to be very effective for treating these sleeping disorders, and is often used by sleep therapists as a preferred method of treatment.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder which causes a person to stop breathing for short spaces throughout their sleep. A person suffering from sleep apnea may experience anywhere from five to thirty or more incidents of apnea per hour, each lasting ten seconds or more.

Apnea is divided into two categories, based on its cause. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a restriction in the patients airways. Central sleep apnea is caused by a break in the signals from the brain to the lungs, etc. CPAP is effective for cases of OSA, but not Central Sleep Apnea.

CPAP works by supplied a stream of pressurized air to the patients lungs, via a mask the patients wears while sleeping. This air will be supplied at a rate set by a sleep therapist, often at a sleep center. The ideal pressure is determined by observation - the ideal pressure is the pressure at which incidents of apnea are reduced most or stopped. Some newer CPAP machines have a feature which decreases air pressure when the patient exhales, to improve the comfortability of the device.

Newer technologies also use automatic pressure monitoring. A computer automatically adjusts the air pressure so that it is always at an optimal level.

Most patients will notice a marked improvement in their sleep the first night they use CPAP. While the CPAP machinery and mask may not be convenient, the benefits more than outweigh the disadvantages.

CPAP machines are now available to the public for purchase. Of course, before buying and using one, you should consult with your health care professional.