"Bi-PAP" stands for Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure. A Bi-PAP machine is a breathing apparatus that helps its user get more air into his or her lungs. In India, the usage of Bi-Pap machines are on the rise with increasing number of patients referred Bi-Pap usage by physicians. Number of different BiPAP brands are available in India including ResMed, Philips, GE and Nidek.
BiPAP machines are covered by insurance and innovative Home Care companies like Tribeca Care also make them available on easy monthly rental plans. The BiPAP machine has similarities to a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. Both machines are used to help patients with breathing problems – especially those with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA). But, as the name suggests, unlike a CPAP machine, a BiPAP machine uses variable levels of air pressure instead of continuous pressure.
A CPAP device maintains a certain constant air pressure within a mask worn by the user. The user typically uses the CPAP machine while sleeping. The air pressure keeps the wearer's airway open, allowing him or her to breathe easily and thereby improving what was previously a disturbed sleep cycle. A potential problem with a CPAP machine however is that the continuous air pressure may make it difficult for the user to exhale against this extra amount of pressure. This makes CPAP unsuitable for those suffering from particular conditions e.g. neuromuscular diseases.
A BiPAP machine allows the air to be delivered through the mask at different air-pressures – one for inhaling and another for exhaling. This makes it easier for users, with say neuromuscular diseases, to adapt to the apparatus and use the BiPAP more comfortably. The dual setting also allows the user to have a better breathing experience as more air gets in and out of his/her lungs.
Who benefits from BiPAP usage?
BiPAP machines are beneficial for patients who have congestive heart failure or lung disorders. BiPAP is often used in cases where there is above-normal levels of carbon dioxide build up. BiPAP usage could also benefit those patients for whom intubation — the insertion of a tube through the mouth — is not possible. Those suffering from atelectasis, a lung condition, could also benefit from BiPAP usage.
Doctors perform different tests to see whether BiPAP usage is required or beneficial for a patient. One such test is a Respiratory Test, which involves breathing into a machine to measure lung capacity. The Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) test is another test that can measure how deeply a person can breathe. OSA can be diagnosed through a Sleep Study – the study monitoring a person's breathing while he or she is sleeping.
A Tribeca Care expert can train you how to use a BiPAP Machine, how to look after it and how to ensure it is working properly. You can also visit the Tribeca Care E-store to know more about Renting or Purchasing a Bi-PAP machine.