Final answer:
NIPPV, including CPAP and EPAP devices, are interventions for sleep apnea that ensure airways remain open during sleep, thereby facilitating normal ventilation and improving breathing patterns in affected individuals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Noninvasive positive airway pressure ventilation (NIPPV), such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure (EPAP), are treatments for conditions like sleep apnea. During sleep, a CPAP device, with a mask that fits either over the nose or both the nose and mouth, delivers a steady stream of pressurized air to keep the airway open. As an alternative, EPAP devices, which have shown promise in clinical trials, are being explored for patients who struggle with CPAP compliance. Sleep apnea diagnosis typically occurs in a sleep lab, where various vital signs and brain activity are monitored. Treatments for sleep apnea also include lifestyle modifications, positional changes during sleep, and for some, supplemental oxygen.
These methods are meant to maintain normal ventilation during sleep by preventing airway closure, which is a common problem in sleep apnea. Optimal treatment can be aided by understanding concepts such as inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), intra-alveolar pressure, and functional residual capacity (FRC), which are all parts of the respiratory system's functioning.