CPAP stands for which term?

• A. Chest pain
• B. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
• C. Metered-dose Inhaler
• D. Carbon monoxide

Answer: (B)

CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, a noninvasive ventilation method that delivers a steady stream of pressurized air to the airways throughout the breathing cycle. The constant positive pressure helps keep the airways and alveoli open, improves oxygenation, and reduces the work of breathing. This is particularly helpful in patients with respiratory distress from conditions like congestive heart failure with pulmonary edema or COPD exacerbation, provided they are awake and able to protect their airway. The other options refer to a symptom (chest pain), a device for delivering inhaled medication (metered-dose inhaler), and a toxic gas (carbon monoxide), none of which define CPAP.