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Treatment for OSA - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machine

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine is the best standard treatment for OSA.

  • A CPAP machine is a pump which delivers air pressure.
  • The air travels from the machine through a tube to a mask on the nose and/or mouth providing pressure which supports the muscles at the back of your throat to keep them open during sleep.
  • The CPAP machine is always used during sleep to stop you snoring and having apnoeas and to improve your sleep quality.
  • Daytime sleepiness should improve.
  • It needs to be used for a minimum of five hours (preferably uninterrupted for the whole period of sleep). Use it each time you sleep, day or night.
  • CPAP is not a cure for OSA. It keeps OSA under control and prevents problems which OSA causes.
  • Always take it with you when you travel or go into hospital.
  • When travelling overseas it must go with you as hand luggage on the plane. 

This page was last updated at 3:00PM on March 26, 2024.