Breathing out

I have just been told that I suffer with sleep apnea and am now on a CPAP machine.

Without the machine when laying flat on my back I can breath in normally but my airway is completely blocked (when fully relaxed) when I try and breath out.

The question is....is this common with other sufferers as I was under the impression that it was breathing "in" that was the problem.

Thanks in advance

kayjas wrote:I have just been told that I suffer with sleep apnea and am now on a CPAP machine.

Without the machine when laying flat on my back I can breath in normally but my airway is completely blocked (when fully relaxed) when I try and breath out.

The question is....is this common with other sufferers as I was under the impression that it was breathing "in" that was the problem.

Thanks in advance

Both inspiration and exhalation are important and apnea can actually affect both.

There are a category of diseases called COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that tend to effect mostly exhalation. Emphysema for example.

Sleep apnea occurs while asleep so don't pay too much attention to what happens while awake.
Jamis