Recent studies suggest that approximately one in every five adults suffer from sleep disordered breathing (SDB).  Many of these people (roughly 80%) go undiagnosed and never receive treatment. The negative impact on public health is profound, with sleep problems contributing to cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, and increased relative risk of heart failure.  These risks can be lessened with treatment from a CPAP machine.

Automatic APAP (Automatic Positive Airway Pressure) devices are designed to regulate air pressure into the body to alleviate SDB and apnea symptoms.  The devices provide minimum pressure required at each point in time, which greatly improves comfort and usability.  Using automated pressure provides better sleep and a 37% reduction in median treatment pressure than by using a manual CPAP machine.  In addition, the devices respond to varying needs for pressure on a breath-by-breath basis.

There are several premium APAP devices available from different manufacturers.  The device provides an
excellent combination of Automatic Positive Airway Pressure and Easy-Breathe Expiratory Relief Pressure to prevent the collapse of the upper airway during sleep.  The enhanced Automatic setting continually monitors breathing, in order to provide the optimal therapy at the lowest, most comfortable pressure.  The APAP device also provides climate control, which adapts to your climate and adjusts accordingly, sending the optimal temperature and humidity right to the mask.  The climate control also prevents rainout, or condensation that forms in the tubing, which greatly increases comfort and ease of use.

In addition, the APAP machine is designed to be quiet; the easy-breathe motor eliminates noise, which results in a peaceful sleeping environment.  The design of the device features foam and noise isolating materials, which result in noise no louder than normal breathing.

Finally, the automatic APAP machines provide compliance management.  Both patients and clinicians can easily monitor the therapy, thus ensuring that any problems are discovered and addressed at the earliest opportunity.  There
are three ways to prove patient compliance:  data on the device via the Sleep Quality Indicator and Sleep Report, an
SD card with high resolution data for every device, and modules for remote and direct download.  The Sleep Quality
Indicator allows patients to view a “snapshot” of their therapy, provides daily feedback and encouragement and identifies usage, leak and AHI information.  The Sleep Report offers compliance and therapy data for up to 365 days, which includes average usage, used hours, days used, run hours and pressure.

The Automatic APAP machine provides optimal therapy for people with apnea and SDB. 

Anthony Zadnic is CEO of The Cpap Shop, and online CPAP store that specializes in finding the right CPAP machine for each person’s needs. He is particularly pleased with patient response from the Resmed CPAP S9 AutoSet machine. For more information on CPAP resmed visit www.thecpapshop.com.