Sleep Apnea is hard enough. Your therapy shouldn’t be.

For months, Rajesh* struggled with something he couldn't quite name. The heavy eyes in the morning, the snappiness during the day, the inexplicable moments of dozing off in meetings or even while driving1,2. It wasn’t just exhaustion - it felt like his body was quietly crying for help.

It wasn’t until a sleep test his doctor recommended3 which confirmed that he had obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that things started to make sense. Finally, a diagnosis. A name. And even better, a treatment - the CPAP machine.4

But relief didn’t come as quickly as he hoped.

The very first night Rajesh tried the device, he felt claustrophobic. The mask tugged at his skin; the steady whirr of the machine felt loud in the silence of night, and he kept waking up - disoriented, mask slightly askew5,6,7. By morning, the mask was off, and Rajesh was frustrated6.

He isn’t alone.

Millions of Indians like Rajesh live with OSA8. And many of them, may not be aware of the risks of untreated sleep apnea - heart disease7, high blood pressure7, daytime drowsiness2, and even increased risk of accidents2 – and end up avoiding or abandoning therapy.

Why? Because the adjustment period to the CPAP device can be hard.

The real struggles behind the maskIt turns out, a lot of people share the same first impressions5,6,7:

The mask feels uncomfortable.
The air pressure feels unnatural.
It’s hard to fall asleep with a machine humming next to your ear.
And then there are the very real physical annoyances - skin irritation, air leaks, dry mouth, or simply the feeling of being “tethered.”

For some, that first night is their last. Studies suggest that about 15% of people stop using CPAP after just a single night. Almost half drop off within a year4.

However, the reality is this - avoiding therapy doesn’t make the problem go away. In fact, it can make things worse.

Why quitting isn’t the answerOSA doesn’t just affect how you sleep. It affects how you live.

From your ability to concentrate and stay alert, to how your heart and lungs function2,7 - quality sleep is the foundation for good health. And for people with sleep apnea, therapy like CPAP can be life changing.

The way you breathe isn’t static - So why should your CPAP be?
Our breathing changes through the night11. Deep REM sleep9, lighter stages9, body position - they all affect how we inhale and exhale12. So, a machine that delivers air at one constant pressure? It might feel uncomfortable for some, because it’s not adapting to what your body is naturally doing.

That’s where new-generation devices come in.

Take Philips DreamStation, for example. It doesn’t just push air; it learns how you breathe. Its 30-night Auto-Trial algorithm tracks your unique patterns and adjusts the pressure accordingly13. So instead of fighting against the machine, you feel supported by it. The EZ-Start feature gently ramps up air pressure, helping you ease into therapy without abrupt changes. And the design allows more freedom to move - because no one wants to sleep like a robot14,15,16.

It’s just a reminder that if the traditional CPAP didn’t work for you, there are smarter, more personalised options out there now.

The goal isn’t just to use a machine. The goal is to sleep better. Breathe better. Live better.

Where do we go from here?If you’ve been avoiding treatment because it felt overwhelming - or if you’ve already tried and given up - maybe it’s time to reframe the conversation.

Find a device that adapts to you, not the other way around. Talk to your doctor. Ask about other options.
And if you’re curious about how the Phillips DreamStation works or whether it could be a better fit for your sleep journey, you can learn more here.

Because a good sleep is worth fighting for, and maybe all you need is the right ally in the room.

* Note: The name Rajesh is used for illustrative purposes only. This is a fictional representation based on common experiences of individuals living with sleep apnea.

References:

1. Jean-Louis G, Zizi F, Clark LT, Brown CD, et al. Obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease: role of the metabolic syndrome and its components. J Clin Sleep Med. 2008;4(3):261-272.
2. Pinto AM, Devaraj U, Ramachandran P, et al. Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a rural population in South India: Feasibility of health care workers to administer level III sleep study. Lung India. 2018 Jul-Aug;35(4):301-306.
3. Goyal M, Johnson J. Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis and Management. Mo Med. 2017;114(2):120-124.
4. Rapelli G, Pietrabissa G, Manzoni GM, et al. Improving CPAP Adherence in Adults With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Scoping Review of Motivational Interventions [published correction appears in Front Psychol. 2023;14:1152441. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1152441.]. Front Psychol. 2021;12:705364.
5. Pinto VL, Sankari A, Sharma S. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. [Updated 2025 May 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482178/.
6. Chou MSH, Ting NCH, El-Turk N, et al. Treatment burden experienced by patients with obstructive sleep apnoea using continuous positive airway pressure therapy. PLoS One. 2021;16(6):e0252915.
7. Catcheside PG. Predictors of continuous positive airway pressure adherence. F1000 Med Rep. 2010;2:70.
8. Suri TM, Ghosh T, Mittal S, Hadda V, Madan K, Mohan A. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in Indian adults. Sleep Med Rev. 2023;71:101829.
9. Al Nufaiei ZF, Alluhibi RH, Alsabiti MB, et al. Assessing the Knowledge and Awareness of Obstructive Sleep Apnea among Patient Families in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study. Int J Gen Med. 2024;17:4213-4225.
10. Luyster FS, Dunbar-Jacob J, Aloia MS, Martire LM, Buysse DJ, Strollo PJ. Patient and Partner Experiences With Obstructive Sleep Apnea and CPAP Treatment: A Qualitative Analysis. Behav Sleep Med. 2016;14(1):67-84.
11. Patel AK, Reddy V, Shumway KR, et al. Physiology, Sleep Stages. [Updated 2024 Jan 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526132/
12. Menon A, Kumar M. Influence of body position on severity of obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review. ISRN Otolaryngol. 2013;2013:670381.
13. A veteran’s guide to DreamStation PAP systems. Available from: https://www.philips.com/c-dam/b2bhc/master/landing-pages/experience-catalog/sleep/sleep-solutions-for-your-veterans/philips-respironics-va-dreamstation-sleep-therapy.pdf.
14. DreamStation CPAP & BiPAP Therapy Systems. Available from: https://www.philips.co.in/healthcare/product/HCNOCTN447/dreamstation-cpap-bipap-cpap-bi-level-therapy-systems
15. Guide to using your DreamStation CPAP machine and humidifier. Available from: https://www.kch.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/pl-897.1-guide-to-using-your-dreamstation-cpap-machine-and-humidifier.pdf.
16. Dreamstation provider manual. Available from: https://junnimed.com/image/catalog/files/DreamStation%20Provider%20Manual%20International%20English.pdf.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the story are independent professional judgments of the doctors/experts, and TIL does not take any responsibility for the accuracy of their views. This should not be considered a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your treating physician for more details. This article has been produced on behalf of Philips by Times Internet’s Spotlight team.