Definition - What does Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure mean?
Expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) is a medical technique designed to facilitate exhalation by preventing soft tissue musculature from collapsing during circadian rhythm cycles. EPAP machines are beneficial in regulating the pressure necessary upon exhalation to maintain an open airway as individuals sleep. Moreover, certain biological and epidemiological variables contribute to difficult breathing patterns. For example, obesity is a culprit for persistent sleep apnea issues where complete blockage of the airway is common.
SureHire explains Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure
For many people, weight gain is a leading cause of sleep apnea from which breathing cessations can both disrupt sleep patterns and induce physiological changes that can undermine health. An obstructed airway results in oxygen desaturation levels, in turn, leading to carbon dioxide buildup in the bloodstream. Nasal EPAP devices are equipped to admit sufficient oxygen during inspiration (breathing in) while tempering the corresponding exhalation (breathing out) at a pressure rate to normalize respiration in patients with sleep apnea or lung conditions.
EPAP machines are often a more viable alternative for sleep apnea patients because medical evidence suggests that soft tissue lining of the throat is subject to collapse during exhalation. Furthermore, bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) is a treatment method that incorporates both inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) at a high rate during inhalation coupled with EPAP at a low pressure setting to stabilize autonomous breathing cycles. For individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), BiPAP is a therapeutic modality in helping offset labored breathing patterns in COPD-related cases by simulating the gaseous interchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide during biorhythm cycles.
Sleep disorders carry detrimental health implications that can lead to cognitive dysfunction, excessive daytime sleepiness, heart disease, homeostatic imbalance, and mood swings. In the workplace, employees can experience lethargy, poor motor coordination, and indifference to duties and tasks that can undercut job performance. EPAP machines can be useful in treating chronic sleep apnea and lung conditions in fostering conducive sleep patterns.
