What does a CPAP/BiPAP machine treat?

A CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) or BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) machine is specifically designed to treat sleep apnea, a condition where a person's airway becomes blocked during sleep, leading to interrupted breathing. The machine works by providing a constant flow of air that helps keep the airway open, preventing the pauses in breathing that are characteristic of sleep apnea episodes.

Unlike asthma, chronic bronchitis, and pneumonia, which involve inflammation and infections of the lungs or airways and may require different types of treatments and interventions, sleep apnea is primarily a sleep-related breathing disorder linked to the mechanics of breathing during sleep. The CPAP/BiPAP machines are thus essential tools in managing sleep apnea, improving sleep quality, and reducing associated health risks such as cardiovascular problems.