BiPAP Specialist

What is BiPAP?

Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) is a non-invasive ventilator that helps you breathe. It’s used in hospitals and at home. BiPAP is also one of the treatments Dr. Kakar and the Dallas Sleep team use to help people with sleep apnea. 

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that affects your breathing while you sleep. People with sleep apnea may stop and restart breathing hundreds of times every hour while they sleep. This pattern prevents deep, restful sleep and affects physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Dr. Kakar is one of the world-leading experts in sleep health and the management of sleep apnea. He’s continuously researching and developing new ways to help his patients get a better night of rest. These include using BiPAP therapy as a treatment option.

How does BiPAP work?

BiPAP works by delivering two alternating airway pressures into your airway. These include a higher pressure when you breathe in and a lower pressure when you breathe out. 

Usually, your diaphragm — the primary muscle in your chest that supports breathing — contracts and flattens, expanding the lungs. This decreases pressure inside your lungs, allowing the lungs to suck in air. 

When you have trouble breathing, the BiPAP machine creates the positive pressure your lungs need to inhale. Then, pressure decreases, allowing you to exhale. 

By comparison, the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device — the most common breathing treatment for people with sleep apnea — delivers one pressure to keep the airway open. 

Some people with sleep apnea may find CPAP therapy uncomfortable and may have an easier time breathing and sleeping with BiPAP therapy. Your BiPAP device may use a face mask, nasal mask, or nasal pillows. 

Who needs BiPAP?

Dr. Kakar determines who needs BiPAP after conducting a comprehensive evaluation with a sleep study. He recommends BiPAP therapy for patients who are unable to tolerate CPAP treatment or when they need higher pressures of CPAP therapy for effective treatment for sleep apnea. 

Additionally, Dr. Kakar may recommend BiPAP therapy for patients who find the alternating pressure therapy and equipment more comfortable. Some people with sleep apnea find it hard to exhale with CPAP therapy. 

BiPAP is also used to treat other breathing conditions such as:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
• Obesity hypoventilation syndrome
• Pneumonia
• Respiratory failure related to COVID-19

If you have trouble breathing while you sleep, Dr. Kakar can design a plan to help. To schedule a consultation at Dallas Sleep, call the office most convenient to you or book an appointment online today.