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What Is Sleep Apnea & What Are Sleep Apnea Machines?
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep, which can cause your oxygen levels to drop. Common sleep apnea symptoms include daytime fatigue, morning headaches, mood changes, loud snoring and gasping/choking during sleep. Without treatment, sleep apnea can have serious consequences on your health and quality of life.
Sleep apnea can increase the risk of cardiovascular related health issues such as hypertension, stroke, atrial fibrillation etc. It can also affect blood sugar management and make it difficult to lose weight. To treat sleep apnea, medical professionals often recommend the use of a sleep apnea machine, also known as a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine.
CPAP machines can significantly improve the quality of life and health outcomes for people with sleep apnea. These machines work by delivering a stream of pressurized air through a mask worn over the nose and/or mouth. The pressurized airflow helps keep the airway open and prevent interruptions in breathing. CPAP therapy also helps stop snoring and dips in oxygen level during the night so you can wake up feeling rested and ready for the day.
How Do I Choose a Sleep Apnea Machine?
When you buy a CPAP device online, the most important thing to consider is whether or not the machine is compatible with your prescription. Once that's confirmed, it's time to focus on machine key factors such as size, noise level, features, compatibility with other CPAP accessories, brand, cost and whether or not the machine will be used outside the home.
Our 2024 CPAP Machine Buying Guide covers these factors in detail and provides our recommendations for the best CPAP machines of 2024. We cover the important questions to ask yourself before your make a purchase and review the best home and travel size CPAP machines on the market today. Make sure to check this out before you buy a CPAP machine online!
Sleep Apnea Machine Types
Machines for sleep apnea are divided into two main categories: CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) and BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure). Both CPAPs and BiPAPs deliver PAP (Positive Airway Pressure) therapy where pressurized air is used to prevent airway obstructions, stop snoring and improve oxygen levels. The main difference between the two is that CPAP machines deliver one level of pressure on inhalation and exhalation while BiPAP machines deliver a higher pressure on inhalation and a lower pressure on exhalation.
Another major difference is what they are used to treat. CPAP machines treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), an uncomplicated form of sleep apnea that occurs when the airway is obstructed. This can be from the tongue falling back or from the collapse of upper airway tissues. BiPAP devices on the other hand, are used to treat central sleep apnea (CSA), a type of sleep apnea where the brain fails to send signals to the muscles controlling breathing. They also treat complex sleep apnea, a combination of OSA and CSA, as well as help improve oxygenation for people with medical conditions that make it hard for their lungs to expand. BiPAPs can also be prescribed for people with OSA who need higher pressures.
CPAP machines are further divided into automatic vs manual and BiPAP machines consist of many subtypes. Let's look at each type of CPAP and BiPAP machine in detail below.
Manual CPAP
Manual CPAP machines are fixed-pressure CPAP machines that deliver a constant pressure throughout the night to keep the airways open. This single, pre-set pressure is determined during an in-lab sleep study and does not change in response to the user’s breathing pattern.
This constant pressure may work well for some, but it may be less comfortable for others, particularly during the initial adjustment period. Manual CPAP machines are intended for prescriptions where a fixed pressure is prescribed.
This constant pressure may work well for some, but it may be less comfortable for others, particularly during the initial adjustment period. Manual CPAP machines are intended for prescriptions where a fixed pressure is prescribed.
Auto CPAP/AutoPAP/APAP
Auto CPAP or AutoPAP/APAP (Automatic Positive Airway Pressure) machines are auto-titrating CPAP machines that automatically regulate pressure in response to the user’s breathing patterns. These machines deliver a lower pressure during periods of normal breathing and increase the pressure during periods of apnea or snoring. They contain more sophisticated algorithms than manual CPAP machines and are more comfortable for CPAP beginners. Although auto CPAPs deliver variable pressure, they are not the same as BiPAP machines because they do not lower exhalation pressure to the extent that BiPAPs do.
Auto CPAP machines are intended for prescriptions that indicate APAP/auto CPAP or contain a minimum and a maximum pressure setting. They are available in different sizes (home or travel size) and there are many manufacturers to choose from.
Our Automatic CPAP Machines page contains more information that can help you pick out your auto CPAP. If you are curious about travel size units, visit our CPAP Machines for Travel page to learn more.
Auto CPAP machines are intended for prescriptions that indicate APAP/auto CPAP or contain a minimum and a maximum pressure setting. They are available in different sizes (home or travel size) and there are many manufacturers to choose from.
Our Automatic CPAP Machines page contains more information that can help you pick out your auto CPAP. If you are curious about travel size units, visit our CPAP Machines for Travel page to learn more.
BiPAP/VPAP
BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) machines are a type of breathing machine that deliver two levels of pressure: a higher pressure during inhalation and a lower pressure during exhalation. The term VPAP (Variable Positive Airway Pressure) is a brand name that is also used to refer to BiPAP machines. BiPAP usually refers to two specific types of BiPAP machines: Auto BiPAP or BiPAP S (Spontaneous) machines.
BiPAP machines are intended for prescriptions with IPAP (inspiratory positive airway pressure) and EPAP (expiratory positive airway pressure) pressure settings. For more information to help you make sense of the auto BiPAP or BiPAP S machine buying process, visit our BiPAP/VPAP Machines page.
BiPAP machines are intended for prescriptions with IPAP (inspiratory positive airway pressure) and EPAP (expiratory positive airway pressure) pressure settings. For more information to help you make sense of the auto BiPAP or BiPAP S machine buying process, visit our BiPAP/VPAP Machines page.
BiPAP/VPAP ST, ST-A and ASV
BiPAP/VPAP ST, ST-A and ASV machines are types of BiPAP machines with highly sophisticated algorithms. The term VPAP (Variable Positive Airway Pressure) is a brand name that is used interchangeably with BiPAP. These machines are used not only for central and complex sleep apnea, but also to improve oxygenation and reduce the work of breathing for individuals with conditions that restrict/reduce lung capacity. BiPAP ST, ST-A and ASV machines are the most complex types of sleep apnea machines.
Depending on the type of BIPAP machine prescribed, your prescription may contain settings such as backup rate, PS (pressure support) etc. in addition to inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) and expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP). For more information to help you make sense of the BiPAP ST, ST-A and ASV machine buying process, visit our BiPAP/VPAP ST, ST-A and ASV Machines page.
Depending on the type of BIPAP machine prescribed, your prescription may contain settings such as backup rate, PS (pressure support) etc. in addition to inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) and expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP). For more information to help you make sense of the BiPAP ST, ST-A and ASV machine buying process, visit our BiPAP/VPAP ST, ST-A and ASV Machines page.
For more information on the different types of sleep apnea machines, read our comprehensive guide written by Anne , RespShop's resident Registered Polysomnographic Technologist.
No Prescription? See How RespShop Can Help You
Know Before You Buy: Important CPAP Machine Features to Look For
Sleep apnea machines can have a variety of features depending on the brand and whether it is a home or travel unit. Here are the most important CPAP machine features to look when buying a machine online.
- Heated Humidifier: Many home CPAP machines come with a humidifier that adds moisture to the air, preventing dry mouth and nasal irritation. To reduce size, travel machines generally do not have heated humidifiers and instead opt for waterless humidification systems that differ by brand.
- Heated Tube: CPAP humidifiers can sometimes cause condensation buildup in the hose and mask. This is where having a heated CPAP hose comes in handy. A heated hose prevents condensation by keeping the temperature consistent along the length of the tube. Most home sleep apnea machines with heated humidifiers are compatible with heated CPAP tubing.
- Ramp: Ramp is a comfort feature that makes it easier to fall asleep. This feature starts therapy off at a lower pressure and gradually increase it over a set period of time. The idea is to let the user fall asleep before the pressure fully kicks in.
- Exhalation Relief: Exhalation relief reduces pressure when you breathe out for a more natural breathing experience.
- Data Recording: Most modern CPAP machines record and store sleep data such as AHI (number of breathing events/hr), usage hours and information on your mask seal. Some machines can be paired with smartphone apps for convenient data access on the go.
- Auto Start/Stop: This is a feature for starting/stopping therapy hands-free. The CPAP machine detects when you start breathing into the mask and begins delivering the prescribed pressure automatically. When you remove the mask, the machine stops therapy.
Why Buy Your Sleep Apnea Machine From RespShop?
Sleep apnea machines, like many other products, are cheaper to buy online. But why should you buy your CPAP machine from RespShop and not another online CPAP supplies store?
The answer is simple. If you purchase or rent a CPAP machine from RespShop, you won't be be left on your own. RespShop is here to help you, every step of the way. From choosing a machine to finding the best CPAP mask and adjusting to CPAP , we have resources and expert staff that's readily available.
Expert Help: A common concern of online CPAP shopping is that no one is there to guide you through the process. At RespShop, we have a team of dedicated medical professionals and customer service agents who can guide you through the CPAP buying process, step by step. They’ll know which machines work with your prescription and help you find the machine that fits your specific needs. All you have to do is get in touch .
Easier than Insurance: Not all insurance plans cover CPAP machines, and when they do there are many requirements. Going through insurance can be time consuming and time is money. Before you buy a CPAP machine, make sure you're familiar with your insurance coverage. Our CPAP Machine Insurance Guide answers commonly asked questions about insurance coverage.