Patient Education
Sleep Apnea: Important Information for Patients Using Certain Respiratory Medical Devices from Philips Respironics
Global Respiratory Device RecallOn June 14, Philips Respironics conducted a voluntary safety recall of several models of devices used, among other things, for sleep apnea; either continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) devices, as well as certain models of mechanical ventilators...
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
OSA is a common, yet often undiagnosed sleep disorder. It afflicts 20 million adult men and women in the US People who have OSA stop breathing repeatedly during sleep because their airway collapses. Airway collapse may be due to such factors as a large tongue, extra tissue in the airway, or decreased muscle tone holding the airway open. As a result, air is prevented from getting into the lungs. These pauses in breathing can happen 30 times or more per hour. When healthy sleep is interrupted in this way, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and other serious health conditions...