Definition of continuous positive airway pressure
: a technique for relieving breathing problems (such as those associated with sleep apnea or congestive heart failure) by pumping a steady flow of air at constant pressure through the nose to prevent the narrowing or collapse of air passages or to help the lungs to expand
—abbreviation CPAP
— compare bilevel positive airway pressure
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for continuous positive airway pressure
The first known use of continuous positive airway pressure was in 1975
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