Which symptom suggests excessive CPAP pressure rather than inadequate airway collapse?

Which symptom suggests excessive CPAP pressure rather than inadequate airway collapse?

• A. Air hunger
• B. Daytime sleepiness
• C. Snoring
• D. Nocturia

Answer: (A)

Excessive CPAP pressure is most likely when the patient experiences air hunger—a sensation of breathlessness or not being able to exhale comfortably under the airflow. This occurs because the pressure is higher than needed to keep the airway open, making the breath feel forced or suffocating during exhalation. If the airway collapse were inadequate, you’d expect symptoms like snoring and persistent obstructive events that disrupt sleep, leading to daytime sleepiness. Nocturia can occur with disrupted sleep in general but isn’t specific to over-pressurization. So air hunger best points to too-high CPAP pressure.

Excessive CPAP pressure is most likely when the patient experiences air hunger—a sensation of breathlessness or not being able to exhale comfortably under the airflow. This occurs because the pressure is higher than needed to keep the airway open, making the breath feel forced or suffocating during exhalation.

If the airway collapse were inadequate, you’d expect symptoms like snoring and persistent obstructive events that disrupt sleep, leading to daytime sleepiness. Nocturia can occur with disrupted sleep in general but isn’t specific to over-pressurization. So air hunger best points to too-high CPAP pressure.