Most people take breathing for granted, but not the many people who suffer on a daily basis from some type of chronic respiratory illness. Being able to breathe is a gift and can make a person feel wonderful or terrible. Using CPAP machines to improve oxygen intake makes all the difference for so many people.

The need for respiratory ventilation can result from many causes. In hospitals it has typically been reserved for people who have suffered a physical trauma that affects their ability to breathe, or people who are very sick. It’s also useful for premature babies to be well ventilated, as well as those who have asthma or sleep apnea.

One way to ventilate a patient is to use tracheal intubation. This is the placing of a flexible hose down the windpipe of a sick patient so that air can be put directly into the lungs. Intubation isn’t an easy procedure and should only be performed by someone with a lot of experience. The negative aftereffects of intubation can be anything from scraped lips and a sore throat to something more serious such as a relaxation of the muscles of the glottis or even rupturing of the esophagus. It’s risky and uncomfortable for the patient, so most have to undergo anesthesia, which carries its own risks.

A continuous stream of specially pressurized air can be delivered to a patient using a CPAP machine. This is a type of positive airway pressure delivery. Oxygen is delivered via the mask the patient wears, which means intubation is unnecessary. The biggest problem around a CPAP machine is that many people are afraid of how the mask and hose look, and thus don’t use the system the way they should or as often as they should. Once it’s been explained to them how comfortable it is, usage goes up to one hundred and forty eight percent-wise.

In the beginning, CPAP machines were used to treat people suffering from sleep apnea. This is a disease that occurs when people begin to fall asleep and their throats relax naturally. As this happens, their airway is restricted or even obstructed. The machine will provide a steady flow of oxygen, and even after only a single use, most patients feel their quality of life has improved drastically.

Asthma sufferers can also use a CPAP for relief of their symptoms. Asthma is a bronchial affliction that’s actually pretty common. The airways become inflamed and often stay that way for long periods. This can cause the patient to suffer bronchial spasms and other debilitating side effects of the illness. A CPAP can increase how much good oxygen an asthma sufferer receives.

Despite being intended for casual use, CPAP machines are now used in intensive care units in most hospitals. They help people who have suffered physical trauma or are having difficulty breathing on their own but don’t require intubation. Being able to avoid intubation is beneficial in many ways and thus a constant positive airway pressure system is the device of choice for patients with problems breathing.

There is only one true issue that CPAP machines face, and that is a lack of education on how helpful it can be, resulting in people who need them using them less than they should. In most cases, a constant positive airway pressure system improves someone’s life drastically and almost immediately. People who couldn’t live happily find new ways to smile, now that they can breathe easier.

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