What is a true statement regarding CPAP therapy?

CPAP therapy, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy, functions by delivering a consistent level of pressure to maintain airway patency during sleep, especially for individuals with obstructive sleep apnea. The correct statement is that there is one level of pressure for inspiration and expiration. This means that the pressure remains constant throughout the breathing cycle, aiding patients in keeping their airways open during sleep without fluctuating between different pressures.

This design is effective as it simplifies the treatment protocol for patients, making compliance easier as they do not have to adjust to varying pressures during different phases of their breathing. The absence of pressure variation minimizes discomfort and helps users adapt more readily to the therapy.

In contrast, some variations of positive airway pressure therapies, like BiPAP, do involve two different levels of pressure for inspiration and expiration, which is not the case with standard CPAP. Therefore, a statement indicating multiple levels of pressure or that it operates only during expiration would not accurately describe CPAP therapy. Additionally, while some modern CPAP machines offer remote adjustments, the fundamental characteristic of CPAP is its consistent pressure, which is crucial for its efficacy.