Inclusion criteria:
- Age ≥18
- Ischemic stroke (as defined in the outcome section84), within the prior 7 days.
- NIHSS ≥1
Exclusion criteria:
- Pre-event inability to perform all of own basic ADLs
- Unable to obtain informed consent from subject or legally authorized representative
- Incarcerated
- Known pregnancy
- Current mechanical ventilation (can enroll later if this resolves) or tracheostomy
- Current use of positive airway pressure, or use within one month prior to stroke
- Anatomical or dermatologic anomaly that makes use of CPAP interface unfeasible
- Severe bullous lung disease
- History of prior spontaneous pneumothorax or current pneumothorax
- Hypotension requiring current treatment with pressors (can enroll later if this resolves)
- Other specific medical circumstances that conceivably, in the opinion of the site PI, coul render the patient at risk of harm from use of CPAP
- Massive epistaxis or previous history of massive epistaxis
- Cranial surgery or head trauma within the past 6 months, with known or possible CSF leak or pneumocephalus
- Recent hemicraniectomy or suboccipital craniectomy (i.e. those whose bone has not yet been replaced), or any other recent bone removal procedure for relief of intracranial pressure
- Current receipt of oxygen supplementation >4 liters per minute
- Current contact, droplet, respiratory/airborne precautions
