The Therapeutic Effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems (MindTap Course List)
9th Edition
ISBN:9781285866932
Author:Lauralee Sherwood
Publisher:Lauralee Sherwood
Chapter13: The Respiratory System
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 7UC
icon
Related questions
icon
Concept explainers
Question

The Therapeutic Effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Expert Solution
Step 1

Positive airway pressure is a therapy to provide breathing ease to people suffering from apnea. The treatment is most commonly prescribed for sleep apnea. It uses a stream of compressed air to provide positive pressure to the lungs.

Step 2

Sleep apnea is defined as the cessation of breath during sleep. This occurs due to the collapse of the lungs or adhesion of mucus and obstruction in the airway. Positive airway pressure is continuously applied during sleep to patients suffering from sleep apnea. The therapeutic mechanism works on the principle of positive pressure. The patient is given a mask to put over the nose and the mouth. The mask is connected to a portable machine that maintains positive external pressure. The machine blows the positive air from the external environment to the upper airway to keep the lungs open and prevent the obstruction from blocking the airway's path. In this way, the positive pressure of air prevents the lungs' collapse and helps the patient maintain normal respiration during sleep.

steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Organ system
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, nursing and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems (MindTap …
Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems (MindTap …
Biology
ISBN:
9781285866932
Author:
Lauralee Sherwood
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Basic Clinical Lab Competencies for Respiratory C…
Basic Clinical Lab Competencies for Respiratory C…
Nursing
ISBN:
9781285244662
Author:
White
Publisher:
Cengage
Surgical Tech For Surgical Tech Pos Care
Surgical Tech For Surgical Tech Pos Care
Health & Nutrition
ISBN:
9781337648868
Author:
Association
Publisher:
Cengage
Intro To Health Care
Intro To Health Care
Health & Nutrition
ISBN:
9781337338295
Author:
Mitchell
Publisher:
Cengage