The Science & Research Behind CMAP
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Breethwell is dedicated to revolutionizing respiratory wellness by tackling a hidden health crisis: Day Apnea and Screen Apnea, the subconscious breath-holding or shallow breathing that disrupts waking hours. Our flagship innovation, the CMAP (Continuously Monitoring Airway Pressure) device, is the result of over 20 years of clinical and behavioral research. Born from a personal struggle with tinnitus and drug-resistant hypertension, this journey uncovered a critical link between breathing irregularities and serious conditions like anxiety, fatigue, and cardiovascular disease, inspiring a breakthrough in respiratory health.
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A Discovery Rooted in Insight
The CMAP’s story began with a revelation sparked by decades of living with tinnitus, a persistent ringing in the ears, and hypertension, with blood pressure reaching 250/150. Unconscious breath-holding during focused tasks, especially screen use, emerged as a culprit, a behavior termed Day Apnea. In 2008, the Pacific Neuroscience Institute was established to explore non-drug solutions for tinnitus, PTSD, and related disorders. Over a decade, insights from thousands of sufferers, particularly veterans, revealed irregular breathing as a common thread amplifying stress and health risks. This discovery drove the creation of CMAP, designed to detect and correct these subtle disruptions in real-time.
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The Science of Day Apnea
Day Apnea, including its digital subset Screen Apnea, involves brief pauses or shallow breaths that reduce oxygenation, elevate carbon dioxide, and activate the sympathetic nervous system, the body’s stress response. A 2007 Microsoft study found 40% of people hold their breath while emailing, confirming this behavior’s prevalence. Research in Frontiers in Physiology (2018) links dysfunctional breathing to cardiovascular risks, such as hypertension and stroke, while guided breathing devices like Resperate (FDA-cleared, 2001) highlight breathing’s therapeutic potential. CMAP targets these daytime irregularities, impacting 25 million Americans with tinnitus, 13 million with PTSD, and 19.1 million with anxiety.
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Cutting-Edge Technology, Rigorous Research
Unlike traditional monitors relying on bulky chest bands, CMAP uses a precise nasal/oral cannula to capture airflow, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels (SpOâ‚‚). This patented IoT device, compact at 2” x 2.5” x 0.75”, connects via Bluetooth to a smartphone app, providing real-time waveform analysis, alerts for breath-holding, and guided exercises to restore healthy breathing. Early tests showed nearly all users exhibited Day Apnea patterns, with promising results: reduced anxiety and blood pressure in initial groups (Breethwell data, 2022). These findings build on Pacific Neuroscience Institute research, which tied breathing irregularities to sympathetic overactivation, increasing risks for diabetes and heart disease.
A Platform for Innovation
CMAP is both a wellness tool and a research platform. Its high-resolution data supports clinical studies, exploring Day Apnea’s role in conditions like hypertension and fitness. Compatible with third-party wearables, CMAP integrates into health ecosystems, enhancing its impact. With U.S. and international patents pending and a 2026 launch planned, CMAP is set to redefine respiratory health across therapy, breathwork, and wellness. Ongoing pilot studies, fueled by the 62% of Americans spending 4+ hours daily on screens (Common Sense Media, 2024), aim to quantify Day Apnea’s reach and effects.
Join Breethwell in reclaiming breath. CMAP’s science, rooted in decades of research and powered by innovative technology, empowers you to breathe better and live better, harnessing the transformative power of every inhale.