CPAP Washington DC

Summary of Sleep Disordered Breathing

In the U.S. alone, there are approximately 40 million adults in the U.S. who suffer from sleep disordered breathing. The industry itself remains less than 10% penetrated on a global basis. Going back a couple of years ago, basically people thought you had to be a 60 or 70 year old obese male in order to have this disorder, when the reality is that most people being diagnosed today are in their 30's, 40's and 50's.     

More than 90% of the cases remain untreated. In fact, the United States is probably the most penetrated market in the world. It is assumed to be about 12% or so of the cases that have been identified. In most other countries in the world it's less than 5% and, in fact in most nations it's less than 1% of the affected population that has been identified.

The bottleneck within the industry has remained the diagnostic capability.  

CPAP Devices

CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and is the most effective and widely used method of treating sleep apnea. The CPAP device does not breathe for you. You can breathe at a normal rate.

A CPAP device provides air pressure through a face mask to help keep the breathing passage open during sleep.

Types of Masks

Nasal Masks

This type of interface requires breathing through the nose and keeping the mouth closed. a chin strap can be worn with the nasal mask to help accomplish this, if needed.

A correctly fitting nasal mask extends from the bridge of the nose to the bottom of the upper lip without touching the sides of the nose or going above the top of the mouth.

Oral Masks

These are a good option for those who breathe through their mouths. Oral masks can be used with or without headgear, and have a flap that goes in front of the teeth and another flap that goes outside the mouth. The inner flap is enough to hold it in place during the day, but at night, an oral mask requires a strap.

A correctly fitting mask covers the entire mouth. To ensure a proper fit, it's important to find an inner flap that fits your mouth. The mask has an adjustment knob for changing the separation between the inner and outer flaps.

Full Face Masks

For those who breathe through both the nose and mouth, full face masks are the way to go. Their breathing flexibility makes them a favorite for nighttime use.

Some full masks reach from the bridge of the nose to the bottom of the mouth and others reach from the nose bridge to below the chin. Still, others cover the entire face, including the eyes. Full masks distribute the pressure over a wider area, which can mean less skin irritation.