An automatic CPAP machine does not use a constant pressure
The CPAP machine is made to push air through your partially blocked airway to clear the obstruction and allow breathing to continue normally. Many people describe “regular” CPAP machines do this by blowing air with a constant pressure all night long regardless of whether or not you’re suffering from an apnea or the cessation of breathing or otherwise.
An automatic CPAP machine does not use a constant pressure. It is designed to monitor the quality of your breath by means of a device that provides feedback on pressure. If the machine detects that you’re breathing normally and is able to detect this, the pressure delivered will be less. However when the machine detects that you aren’t breathing properly (that is, when it detects an apnea hypopnea, or snoring pressure delivered will be higher.
Because the majority of patients with sleep apnea are able to breathe normally for at least a period of their sleep so it is obvious that having a constant pressure is ineffective for CPAP therapy. Automated CPAP machines provide approximately 60% less pressure during the time of the night when compared to a CPAP machine, which provides a constant pressure. This lower pressure helps improve patient comfort and reduce compliance, and makes CPAP therapy more comfortable for those who are new CPAP users.
If your pressure prescription is quite low, i.e. less than 10 cm H2O, the main benefit of an automated CPAP machine might not be the lower average pressure, however, it could be that you do not have to be concerned about adjusting your pressure setting in the near future. A fully automated CPAP machine almost guarantees that you’ll get the most effective CPAP treatment regardless of any changes to your medical condition.
Like most CPAP machines, automated CPAP machines are built to provide air pressure that is between 4 cm H2O to 20cm H2O. When the machine is initially set up, the machine, the minimal and maximal pressure are to be determined. The default setting is usually 4 cm H2O for the minimum pressure, and 20 cm H2O as the highest pressure is utilized. However, if the prescribed pressure setting is more than 10 cm H2O, then raising the minimum pressure could be a good idea. I’d suggest using the standard setting for maximum and minimum pressures as these settings allow for the highest average reduction in pressure and provide the greatest quality of patient comfort.
Another advantage of automated CPAP machine is they’re two machines within one. You’ll get an automatic CPAP machine that regulates pressure automatically, but you also receive a device that can be programmed to provide an unchanging pressure, just like the regular CPAP machine. This functionality flexibility is appealing to a lot of CPAP users, particularly those who are making use of CPAP apparatus for the first time.
There are two kinds of sleep apnea, central and Obstructive. Central sleep apnea happens as due to a defect in the thalamus part of the brain. In contrast, sleep apnea that is obstructive is caused by obstruction of the airway. CPAP devices are made to open the airway in people suffering with obstructive sleep apnea however CPAP machines have no impact on Central sleep apnea. Certain automatic CPAP devices like those like the Puritan Bennett 420E are able to detect sleep apneas that occur with or without cardiac osciallations, thereby avoiding intensifying the pressure during central apnea episodes where it is clear airway. In addition, the most advanced automated CPAP machines are able to distinguish between obstructive hypopnea and central hypopnea (which is defined as breathing shallowly).
Below is a list of the advantages of an automated CPAP machine:
About 40% overall reduction in pressure delivered
You don’t have to be concerned about changing the pressure when your condition alters
The machine is flexible – it can be set to auto mode or continuous mode
Certain automated machines can detect the distinction between obstructive hypopneas/apne and central apneas/hypopneas.