The Difference Between CPAP and BiPAP
CPAP therapy is typically the go-to therapy for patients that suffer from sleep apnea, but it’s not the only kind. While it’s the most common type of treatment, some patients need less air pressure than others.
These patients benefit from CPAP therapy, but they would receive more of a benefit from a BiPAP device. Instead of continuous air pressure keeping their airways open, these patients receive bilevel air pressure allowing them to exhale against a lower pressure.
At first glance, these two types of therapies seem very similar. However, there are specific conditions that require patients to seek out BiPAP therapy.
Continue reading to learn more about the difference between CPAP and BiPAP.
How CPAP and BiPAP are Different
CPAP is an acronym for continuous positive air pressure and helps people keep their airways open during sleep. It does this by continuously pumping air in someone’s airways at one pre-set pressure level.
BiPAP stands for bilevel positive air pressure and allows users to exhale against a lower air pressure. This type of therapy is for people that might have other respiratory issues, like COPD, or other lung disorders. It can even be for people that are prescribed a high-pressure setting.
Who Needs BiPAP Therapy?
Put simply, BiPAP therapy makes it easier for people to exhale. CPAP devices are difficult to get used to, and some patients might find it difficult to exhale, especially if they’ve been prescribed with a high-pressure setting.
These devices have two pressure settings: one for inhalation and another for exhalation. This allows patients to get more air in and out of their lungs while keeping their airways open.
BiPAP devices can even be setup to help measure how many breaths per minute someone is taking. If the device user starts to exceed their prescribed breath limit, their device can force them to breathe by increasing the air pressure.
Ultimately, it’s up to your sleep doctor or respiratory therapist to determine which kind of positive airway pressure therapy you need.
The Best BiPAP Machines
There are many different kinds of BiPAP machines and masks, and you should ask your sleep doctor which device is best for you.
[Remember: you must use your device for 4 or more hours per night, for 70% of a 30 day period to be considered compliant. Read more about compliance in our guide.]
Here are some BiPAP machines that we’ve seen work well for patients:
- DeVilbiss IntelliPAP AutoBilevel with Heated Humidifier
- Philips Respironics DreamStation Auto BiPAP
- Respironics BiPAP autoSV Advanced
- ResMed AirCurve 10 VAuto
How RemZzzs Can Help
CPAP and BiPAP therapies can provide significant benefits for people that suffer from sleep apnea.
Regardless of the unique pressure settings of your device, we’ve found that one of the primary barriers to device usage is comfort. Both CPAP and BiPAP therapy users find their masks to be incredibly uncomfortable when worn for a long period of time.
That’s where RemZzzs® comes in. Our mask liners seal annoying air leaks, rid faces of red mask lines, allow users to go to sleep with moisturizer on, and can even make it easier to maintain your device. Ultimately, CPAP comfort leads to compliance, and RemZzzs® Mask Liners are key to comfort.