Clear Airway Events

[thefer]

Hi

So, we increased the pressure from 8 to 10 to reduce the hyponeas and the AHI. The AHI stayed below 1.5 on the majority of the nights.

Now, the last couple nights, the AHI started creeping back up to 4.2. Along with taking daytime naps. There is 7 hypos and 19 CA events. Is that something to be concerned about? What is the CA events? Why are they increasing?

Should I increase the pressure?

thanks
Jennifer

[Sleepster]

The increase in pressure is causing the CA events. Do not raise the pressure further.

If you had an auto-adjusting CPAP machine you could set it on a pressure range of 8 to 10. Then it would stay at 8 until you need a higher pressure to stop the hyopneas, but then lower it when you don't so you won't get so many CA events.

You can check with SleepyHead to see how long these CA events last. If only 10 seconds then that's not as bad as 30 seconds or more. If the CA index doesn't go back down talk to your providers.

A CA event is when you stop breathing but your airway is clear. So it's not an obstructed airway. The theory is that the extra oxygen provided by the CPAP machine fools your brain into thinking it doesn't need to signal your body to breathe. So, the higher the pressure the more oxygen, and thus the increase in CA events. It usually subsides as we adapt to CPAP therapy but if it doesn't you will need to talk to your provider about a solution.