Sleep Therapy
CPAP vs BiPAP: Which One Do You Need?
10 April 2026 · 5 min read
Both keep the airway open. The difference is how they handle your exhale — and who benefits.
CPAP delivers one steady pressure through the whole breathing cycle. It is the first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea and works well for most patients.
BiPAP delivers a higher pressure on inhale and a lower one on exhale. That makes breathing out easier, which helps patients on high pressures, those with COPD, or anyone who finds CPAP uncomfortable.
Your sleep study and prescribing doctor decide which device is right. As a rule of thumb, if CPAP pressures above 15 cmH2O feel like fighting the machine, BiPAP is worth discussing.
Need help picking the right device?