What is Bipap?  

Bilevel positive airway pressure.   

BPAP machine is used as a prominent home healthcare device to treat breathing complications. It is used to provide air to the lungs or the upper airways in case of breathing difficulties.   

BiPAP provides a non-invasive form of ventilation. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) supplies positive pressure ventilation through non-invasive interfaces such as Nasal masks, Face Masks or Nasal Plugs. The invasive ventilation includes artificial ventilation with an endotracheal tube or tracheostomy tube. 

As the name indicates, BiPAP has bivalves to provide different air pressure during inhale and exhale.   

BiPAP machine supplies increased air pressure when the person inhales (breaths in). This airway pressure is known as Inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP).   

BiPAP machine supplies decreased air pressure when the person exhales (breaths out). This airway pressure is known as Expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP).   

What are the uses of a BiPAP Machine?   

BiPAP machine is used to treat disorders that involve breathing complications.    

Keep reading to learn about the uses of BiPAP Machine       

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  

• Central Sleep Apnea. 

• COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder.   

• Lung Infection or Asthma conditions. 

BiPAP is used under the following medical conditions:  

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea:   

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a common type of sleep disorder. The person feels difficulty breathing during sleep. The oxygen flow stops when the throat muscles relax.   

OSA occurs when the airways are blocked by extreme relaxation of throat muscles. When the throat muscles relax, the tissues collapse and block the airways, this collapsing of muscles and blocking of the airways leads to breathing problems in a person while sleeping. A common symptom of OSA is extreme snoring.     

BiPAP is used to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It uses compressed air to supply air to your lungs.

• Central Sleep Apnea   

Central Sleep Apnea involves neurological problems, and the brain stops sending signals to your body to breathe. CSA is caused because of the involvement of the nervous system in it and not due to the symptoms like snoring and airway blockage.    

Central Sleep apnea occurs when breathing-related muscles stop working as they do not get muscles from the brain. CSA is diagnosed in persons with brain infections and disorders related to brain functioning.     

As the name suggests, BiPAP helps in providing two-way pressure. It reduces stress during exhaling and increases pressure during inhaling. It becomes comfortable for the patient to breathe.    

• COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder  

COPD is the term for lung and respiratory disorders that make breathing difficult. Patients with COPD face frequent wheezing and shortness of breath. COPD symptoms increase at night while the body is under continuous rest.    

BiPAP helps in treating COPD by keeping the airways open for breathing. As the BiPAP works two ways by providing different air pressure during exhaling and inhaling, the controlled air pressure into the lungs helps the person manage the condition of COPD effectively. 

• Lung infection or Asthma conditions   

BiPAP helps patients with lung infections or asthmatic conditions. BiPAP allows the person to breathe easily, increases oxygen levels and reduces breathing stress. BiPAP works effectively for kids and elders in managing short breaths and improves the patient's condition if BiPAP is used regularly. 

Conclusion:   

BiPAP is a Non-invasive form of ventilation that is effective in treating most disorders associated with short breaths and wheezing. It also treats neurological or neuromuscular disorders and obesity hypoventilation syndrome. BiPAP is also used to avoid breathlessness after medical procedures and conditions.

For more information visit: How does BPAP machine work