Are either you or a loved one struggling with a respiratory condition that’s inhibiting your breathing? You most likely took a trip to your family healthcare professional who recommended oxygen therapy to help you or your loved one cope with the respiratory disease. However, during your research for a home oxygen concentrator, you come across the term “CPAP” and are unsure what it means. Never fear, our excellent team of professionals at Oxygen Always can help explain the difference between CPAP and oxygen.
What is CPAP Therapy?
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP for short, is primarily for those who suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). People who suffer from sleep apnea experience interruptions in their breathing throughout the night as obstructions in the airway impede their breathing for several seconds as they sleep. Depending on the intensity of one’s OSA, people who suffer from this respiratory condition may experience from 5 to 100 breathing disruptions per hour!1 Eventually, these disruptions in airflow can lead to an array of health issues such as restless sleep, chronic daytime drowsiness, heart disease, and stroke.
CPAP therapy helps alleviate the symptoms of OSA by dispensing a constant, but gentle flow of air into the airway through a facial mask. CPAP machines function to minimize restrictions to the airway by keeping the throat muscles from collapsing as the patient sleeps. Most CPAP devices are small enough to fit on a nightstand or take along with you while travelling. Some of our products work well with CPAP for OSA such as the SeQual Equinox, the Inogen One G3, and Lifechoice ActivOx Pro.
What is Oxygen Therapy?
Oxygen therapy, also known as supplemental oxygen, is usually dispensed through an oxygen concentrator and its function is similar to that of a CPAP device, but more complex in design. An oxygen concentrator converts typical room air into pure oxygen through a flexible tube, with a purity ranging from 87% to 93%. Patients can have oxygen delivered either by a continuous flow of air or in smaller amounts in a pulse flow.
The main difference between CPAP and oxygen therapy is related to their function. While CPAP therapy is mainly used for OSA, supplemental oxygen is used for various respiratory conditions such as COPD, emphysema, and asthma. Both respiratory therapies, however, require a prescription from a healthcare professional.
Want to learn more about CPAP, oxygen therapy, or our large inventory of home oxygen concentrators and how they can improve your respiratory health? Feel free to contact our knowledgeable staff at Oxygen Always for further assistance.
Sources
- Alaska Sleep – CPAP Therapy: How it Works, Getting Set Up, & Results
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