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continuous positive airway pressure
noun
: a technique for relieving breathing problems (such as those associated with sleep apnea or congestive heart failure) by pumping a steady flow of air at constant pressure through the nose to prevent the narrowing or collapse of air passages or to help the lungs to expand
—abbreviation CPAP
compare bilevel positive airway pressure
Examples of continuous positive airway pressure in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Flying with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine — used to combat sleep apnea — has been seemless for me and many other travelers on U.S. airlines for many years.
—Gary Stoller, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
The use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device is the most common and usually the most effective treatment.
—Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 15 July 2024
The company has recalled more than 5 million such machines, most of them continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, which force air through a mask to prop open nasal and mouth passageways while a person sleeps.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2024
To qualify for the device, called a hypoglossal nerve stimulator, a person over 18 diagnosed with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea must be unable to adapt or refuse to wear a continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, machine, the gold standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for continuous positive airway pressure
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'continuous positive airway pressure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1975, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of continuous positive airway pressure was
in 1975
Dictionary Entries Near continuous positive airway pressure
Cite this Entry
“Continuous positive airway pressure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/continuous%20positive%20airway%20pressure. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Medical Definition
continuous positive airway pressure
noun
: a technique for relieving breathing problems (as those associated with sleep apnea or congestive heart failure) by pumping a steady flow of air of constant pressure through the nose to prevent the narrowing or collapse of air passages or to help the lungs to expand
The most common treatment for patients with sleep apnea is to provide continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) at the upper airway, usually through a nasal mask, during sleep.—Jeffrey M. Drazen
—abbreviation CPAP
compare bilevel positive airway pressure, positive end-expiratory pressure
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