Colin Sullivan: Well first of all it doesn't cure the apnoea it actually controls it, so it's a physical therapy that stops the key event which is obstruction which leads to all the consequences. By and large if people start to use it and accept it early, many of them will actually continue to use it over years. The first patient I put on died only recently, he died of another disorder, malignancy, and he actually used it every night virtually for 30 years until his death a few months ago and that's representative of a very large core of people.
I AGREE with the above quote from Colin Sullivan.
It is important that especially new users understand the long term benefits of CPAP so they will stay on it long term.
I am one of those long term users and will always be indebted to Colin Sullivan for inventing CPAP. The oldest CPAP machine that I can find in my basement is a Respironics Sleep Easy dated 2/8/1985. I have stayed on CPAP ever since and feel that I have avoided the major problems that lack of treatment can cause. I can still play tennis against my grand kids who are on the High School team and I know that without CPAP over the years I would not be able to do that. We need to find a way to get the other 90% or so untreated people with aponea on CPAP.