Dear Doctor: A CPAP machine helped one patient sleep through the night — here's the science behind why

Using a CPAP machine helps patients sleep through the night by treating sleep apnea. When sleep apnea closes the airway, the heart's atria overfill, triggering the release of a diuretic peptide. This hormonal chain reaction forces individuals to wake up and urinate repeatedly during the night. By addressing the underlying sleep apnea, CPAP therapy reduces this specific physiological response, effectively stopping the need for frequent nighttime bathroom visits and improving overall sleep quality for the patient.