Feeling like you can't breathe or take a full breath can challenge both your physical and mental health. If you have a health issue that affects your lungs and ability to breathe easily, your doctor may suggest noninvasive ventilation (NIV).

What Is Noninvasive Ventilation?

Noninvasive ventilation is a machine that delivers pressurized air into your lungs. A mask brings gas from a positive pressure ventilator into your mouth and nose.

The goal of NIV is to improve your supply of oxygen and ventilation, helping you breathe. As a result, this can:

  • Increase comfort and mobility.
  • Reduce complications.
  • Shorten hospital stays.

Knowing your breathing isn't restricted also helps give peace of mind.

Who can benefit from noninvasive ventilation?

NIV can benefit you if you have respiratory failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These conditions can put a lot of demand on your body and affect how easily and clearly you breathe.

NIV can also help if you have a neuromuscular disorder that causes muscle weakness and atrophy. These conditions may also interfere with your ability to inhale and exhale fully.

Other conditions NIV can treat include:

Because NIV is noninvasive, you avoid the risks associated with having a tube inserted into your body and a machine breathe for you.

What Are the Different Types of Noninvasive Ventilation Devices?

The two most commonly used types of NIV devices are:

  • Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) — Works to ease acute respiratory failure. It alternates between two levels of positive airway pressure to support you when you inhale and exhale.
  • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) — Often used for sleep apnea, this machine delivers a single selected pressure throughout the entire breathing cycle.

Both devices are great treatment options. Your provider will work with you to ensure you use the NIV method best suited to you.

What Makes Noninvasive Ventilation a Beneficial Treatment Option?

NIV allows you to live more independently and maintain simple functions like eating, drinking, and speaking. Because it provides pressurized air to the airways, it also reduces the effort and strain breathing requires.

At UPMC, our dedicated team can help improve your well-being and overall quality of life. From cutting-edge treatments to compassionate care, we strive to make a difference every day.

If noninvasive ventilation is right for you, our pulmonologists will work with you. They'll discuss using and acclimating to the machine, and help with necessary adjustments to meet your respiratory and comfort needs.

To learn more about the pulmonary and respiratory services offered at UPMC, visit UPMC.com/services/pulmonology.