Category: How to Use a CPAP Machine

Use this info to make better CPAP machine decision

Use this info to make better CPAP machine decision

Posted on by Sara Larcombe

A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment is often used to treat sleep apnea, which affects millions of Australians. Many individuals believe that since a CPAP machine is too big for them to comfortably sleep on their side or stomach when using CPAP treatment, CPAP users must always sleep on their backs. There are several different types of CPAP masks, some of which are thicker than others. While some CPAP users must use a certain kind of machine, others are free to choose a machine based on their preferred sleeping position.

Be sure to follow your sleep specialist’s advice while choosing a cpap machine for sleep apnea treatment. Before altering machine types, talk to them to see whether your selected option would be a good fit for you. Each kind of machine has a specific shape that serves a certain function, and not all machine types are appropriate for all CPAP users.

Which CPAP Mask Works Best for Your Sleep Position?

The three kinds of CPAP masks that are most often used are full-face, nasal, and nasal pillow masks. Full-face masks are the bulkiest choice since they also cover the lips, unlike nasal masks which just cover the nose. Nasal pillow masks, which just cover the nostrils and have no hard shell, are the least obtrusive masks.

In addition to being uncomfortable, sleeping with your CPAP machine pressed against your face may lessen the efficiency of your treatment. To stop air leaking, CPAP masks need to be well sealed. A CPAP mask’s headgear may also interfere with sleep, particularly if it features abrasive plastic buckles or inflexible anchor straps. When choosing a CPAP machine, you should consider the mask’s footprint, including its length, width, and depth, as well as where the headgear will rest on your face. The goal is to discover a machine that is both useful and comfortable for sleeping.

Masks for side sleepers using CPAP

On your side, which prevents gravity from impacting your airway the way it does when you’re on your back or stomach, is one of the best sleeping positions for treating sleep apnea. Unfortunately, finding the appropriate CPAP machine may be difficult for side sleepers.

Because they are so high above the cushion, nasal pillow masks are a great choice for side sleepers who can manage them. Nasal pillow masks often retain their seal even in instances when some side sleepers may lean their faces toward the cushion. Nasal masks, which partly or totally surround the nose, are another option that is effective for many side sleepers. The best styles include soft, movable headgear and excellent sealing. However, because these characteristics don’t do much to halt air leakage, side sleepers may still need a CPAP-friendly cushion to support the thickness of even a nasal machine.

Use this info to make better CPAP machine decision

Masks for back sleepers using CPAP

Since even full-face masks fit well in this position, back sleepers using CPAP have access to a broad variety of machine choices. Even though lying on your back while using a CPAP machine may be optimal, gravity might cause the airways to collapse. If your doctor is aware that you sleep on your back and has not suggested that you alter positions, you will likely feel at peace wearing any machine that is effective and fits your other requirements. Even while some back sleepers have trouble wearing single-strap headgear, the position also makes it more difficult to take off your machine. For stomach sleepers, CPAP masks

Stomach sleeping is the least frequent sleeping position, and those who do so must take particular care while choosing a CPAP machine. Due to their positioning, the majority of masks press into the face, which is unpleasant and often causes air leakage. Depending on the size of your machine, your head may be pushed into a position that strains your neck and may cause pain or stiffness the next day.

Most people can only use a nasal pillow machine when sleeping on their stomachs for these reasons. Nose pillows are ideal for this because of their low profile; regardless of how you sleep, they won’t likely get unpleasant or dislodge. Check that your actual pillows can accommodate the machine, even if you use a nasal pillow machine. Some masks also include tubes around the temples, which might cause air blockage depending on your sleeping position and the firmness of your pillow.

Use this info to make better CPAP machine decision

Where can I get CPAP masks?

CPAP masks also require a prescription, much as CPAP machines. Despite this, there are several locations where you may get a CPAP machine. A prescription is still required by online merchants, and this prescription is often validated by having you upload or fax it to the store. As soon as your prescription is approved, you may make your purchase.

Although physical medical supply shops are also popular options and often more practical if you need a machine right now, the best CPAP machines and masks are frequently accessible through internet suppliers. Finally, a lot of sleep clinics and professionals provide a tiny range of CPAP masks for sale. Purchasing via your sleep specialist allows them to better oversee your treatment, despite their charges often being greater.

Utilizing a CPAP Pillow to Enhance Mask Fit

You should pick your CPAP masks depending on the advice of your sleep doctor since not all CPAP users can successfully use all CPAP machine designs. If the machine you must wear hinders you from sleeping in your preferred position, a CPAP cushion can be the answer. These cushions are more shaped than a conventional pillow to support masks, particularly heavier ones, even when you sleep on your side. Depending on the kind, they could also provide greater cervical support to stop neck strain or machine dislodging.

Final thoughts

A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment is often used to treat sleep apnea, which affects millions of Australians. Many individuals believe that CPAP users must sleep on their backs because a machine is too big for them to comfortably do so while undergoing treatment with a CPAP machine. There are several different types of CPAP masks, some of which are thicker than others. While some CPAP users must use a certain kind of machine, others are free to choose a machine based on their preferred sleeping position.

Using your CPAP machine during hot weather

Using your CPAP machine during hot weather

Posted on by Sara Larcombe

Even in the dead of winter, Australia is recognized and adored for its sunny days and bright weather. Even if it’s fantastic for the developing beach culture, it might be challenging for CPAP machine users to get a good night’s sleep. When it’s hot outside, we just want to throw off all of our covers since it might be unpleasant and sweaty to stay in bed. Unfortunately, covering your face with a mask doesn’t help and may make it much harder for you to get a good night’s sleep.

Even though you may be tempted to stop using the mask when those temperatures start to rise, it’s critical to continue using your sleep apnea devices every night if you want your treatment to be successful. However, it’s simpler than you would imagine to use your CPAP machine in the heat.

In order to help you, we have put together this blog to provide you additional details and some practical advice on controlling your CPAP machine treatment in an effort to make you feel more at ease during those warm evenings.

Related: 5 Signs You May Need To Buy CPAP Machines

Effect of Temperature on Sleep

First and foremost, it’s crucial to keep the temperature of the room and body just right since it has a big influence on how well we sleep.

There are various phases of sleep, the first of which is the change from awareness to light sleep. To enter the next stage, known as profound sleep, the body’s core temperature typically has to drop by two to three degrees. However, if our core temperature is too high, the brain is unable to distinguish between the shift from awake to asleep, which directly affects how well we sleep.

Our internal temperatures may be directly influenced by our environment, therefore the temperature of your room can play a role.

The optimal temperature has generally been determined to be between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius2,3, which is because this range is most compatible with the colder temperatures your core experiences in the middle of the night. Low temperatures make sure that your body doesn’t warm up sooner and exit the deep sleep phases too rapidly, encouraging a more peaceful night.

Therefore, the optimal sleeping environment is one that is dark, calm, and cool.

So, what do you do in warm weather?

The advantages and disadvantages of your CPAP machine in hot weather

Higher temperatures may have both beneficial and detrimental impacts on your ability to sleep each night if you use a CPAP device.

The mask is a crucial component of your CPAP treatment, but if you’re trying to stay cool, it might trap the heat in around your face and neck, particularly if it’s the silicon type that covers your mouth and nose. Because of the increased pressure and close contact with your face, there is also insufficient airflow over your skin, which may make you perspire and make you feel uneasy. Your body temperature may rise and you may get restless as a result, which may negatively affect the quality of your sleep.

Despite this, CPAP machine users often discover that the warmer weather, as opposed to the drier winter months, gives some welcome respite because to the increased moisture in the air.

Using your CPAP machine during hot weather

In the summer, the warm air may give enough of moisture to make breathing much more pleasant since it doesn’t dry out your mouth, nose, or throat. For CPAP machine users, humidity can be a lifesaver. Even this, however, has a limit since excessive humidity in the air may fill the tubing and mask with condensation, causing your device to sputter and even slap water on your face through your mask, waking you awake.

Therefore, you must find a technique to balance each of these aspects so that you can sleep well every night. Fortunately, there are several quick and easy tricks you may do to keep your CPAP machine treatment under control when it’s hot outside.

Handling Extra Moisture While Wearing Your CPAP Mask

In order to assist you manage dryness, your CPAP machine may have a humidifier that increases the moisture content of the air you are breathing. You may lower this function since, generally speaking, warmer weather has led to an increase in humidity. Compared to the dry air that most users must endure throughout the winter, the excess moisture from the air in your bedroom easily travels through your machine and into your airways. Regardless of the season, there are several situations when you should keep your humidifier on high.

For instance, you should make sure your humidifier is running at a level to prevent your sinuses and passages from drying up overnight if you live in a dry area of Australia or if the temperature inside your house is higher than the outside (which is often the case).

A buildup of condensation in the mask and hose known as “rainout” may result from excessive moisture, which can be unpleasant.

Using your CPAP machine during hot weather

There are several methods to assist you in managing this:

  • Place the CPAP on the floor or at a lower position so that the extra moisture doesn’t flow into the mask and splash your face. Try lowering the humidifier’s setting.
  • To maintain a steady temperature and humidity level, use a tubing.
  • These suggestions can assist in reducing humidity so that you can breathe more easily and prevent your mask from becoming too wet as you sleep.

Running the humidifier with cooled water

In hot temperatures, some CPAP machine users experience discomfort because they discover that breathing through the mask causes steamy, wet conditions within the silicon shell.

However, a helpful tip is to store distilled water in smaller containers in the refrigerator. This cooled water may be poured into the humidifier chamber just before going to bed, and then the humidifier can be turned to the lowest or off setting. As a consequence, you breathe cooler air that still contains moisture but doesn’t warm up and produce perspiration, rainout, or steam.

This useful technique may help keep excessive heat under control while preventing drying out your mouth, nose, and throat, but it is worth trying with as it might be different for each individual.

Some people attempt freezing the distilled water to make it more solid, but the drawback is that it doesn’t turn back into vapour quickly enough to work while trying to go asleep at first. We don’t recommend this since ice chips could harm the equipment.

The ideal method is to quickly freeze some distilled water in a small container until it is very cold but not frozen.

Just keep in mind to use distilled water as it gets rid of various minerals, pollutants, and live things that might harm your health or your CPAP machine. The best choice is bottled water if you can’t get access to distilled water.

5 Less-Known Common Problems of CPAP Machines And How To Prevent Them Without Extra Cost

5 Less-Known Common Problems of CPAP Machines And How To Prevent Them Without Extra Cost

Posted on by Sara Larcombe

CPAP machine remains the best device for treating obstructive sleep apnea.  It provides continuous positive airways pressure therapy which enables you to breathe adequately while sleeping. The machine comes with a hose that connects to the mask to supply a steady flow of air pressure to aid excellent breathing. Though the CPAP machine is super easy to use, it is possible that you have a few issues when fixing it for use. Especially if you are a first-time user, you may have to encounter little problems which can be frustrating and minimize productivity. 

For that reason, it is important for every user to learn how to avoid unnecessary headaches that may limit the performance of how do cpap machines work. If you have just bought a CPAP machine or you are planning to get one, here are the best tips to help you avoid cpap machine errors and other common issues to achieve maximum efficiency and productivity.

5 Common Problems of CPAP Machines And How To Avoid Them 

1. Unsuitable or Unstable CPAP mask

You can only get the best inflow of air pressure when your mask fits properly. Leaky masks can make the air that is supposed to travel straight into your lungs escape. In that case, you can have a CPAP machine fixed to your nose and mouth and still don’t get good breathing while sleeping.  Not only that, the wrong size or style of CPAP mask can make you feel uncomfortable all through the night, preventing you from having a sound sleep. 

People have different types of facial shapes and configurations. Hence, CPAP masks are not one size fits all. To get the best result, you need to work with your healthcare provider for a professional recommendation before purchasing your machine.

Solution

  • Try a wide range of masks

The market makes it easy! Different sizes and styles of masks for CPAP machines are available in stores. For instance, some are full-face masks that generously cover the nose and mouth having straps that extend across the forehead and cheeks. This type of mask is best for those that breathe through their mouth. However, people that breathe through their noses might feel claustrophobic with this mask. 

The bottom line here is to make sure you choose the right size and style of mask for your CPAP machine. To make the best selection, make sure you ask your healthcare provider or CPAP machine supplier to help you decide on which mask will best work for you. Of course, the professional must have examined your face and breathing pattern before giving a verdict.

5 Less-Known Common Problems of CPAP Machines And How To Prevent Them Without Extra Cost

2. Not comfortable with masks

Most people have issues with wearing masks when sleeping. Some even sense that they can’t afford to wear clothes when laying in bed. Yes! It happens. Especially those that move around while sleeping, they may feel uncomfortable not being able to change sleeping positions at will. Whichever category you belong to, there is a tendency that you will have trouble wearing masks to bed – at least for the first few days or weeks. 

Solution

If your case requires a CPAP machine but you don’t like wearing masks while sleeping, there is a way out for you. What you need is to get more familiar with the new ways of living. First, I’d recommend that you try wearing your (CPAP machine) mask for some time while you are not sleeping. You may put it on when watching your favorite television program, or when doing some work on your computer. Some other times, you may even turn on the machine and connect it with the hose and mask, then fix it on your nose while lying down awake.

3. Intolerance to forced air 

Since you have always been used to the natural air-breathing, you may not like to breathe in a forced air and that can make you intolerant to the machine’s operation.

Solution 

If you are using a CPAP machine with a ‘ramp’ feature, you can overcome this problem with little effort. You only need to adjust the settings in such a way that the air will start flowing with low pressure. After a while, the machine will automatically increase the air pressure slowly to your preferred setting when you are already fast asleep. 

If you have a personal healthcare provider watching over you while asleep, he may also help you control the airflow in case the pressure makes you uncomfortable when sleeping.  

5 Less-Known Common Problems of CPAP Machines And How To Prevent Them Without Extra Cost

4. Dry, stuffy nose

It is possible that your nose becomes dry and stuffy when sleeping if you have a CPAP machine plugged into your nose. That could happen if your mask is leaky. Air may escape your mask if the mask is not rightly fitted into your nose. A dry or stuffy nose may prevent you from getting adequate sleep and consequently affect the whole activity of the next day.

Solution 

Check thoroughly to make sure your mask fits perfectly into your nose. More so, be careful enough to ensure the straps are well tightened to the appropriate places. You also need A CPAP machine with a heated humidifier. This feature allows you to adjust the humidification level to your preference. Lastly, a nasal saline spray can also help prevent a dry, stuffy nose at bedtime.

5. Difficulty falling asleep 

As a first-timer, you may find it difficult to sleep with a mask fitted to your nose and mouth. This has been the most common problem people face with CPAP machines. Of course, not everyone can sleep soundly when there is a machine that gives them a restriction on the bed. But, there’s a way out.

Solution

The best way to solve this problem is to first get adapted to the mask. This could mean that you have to wear the mask during the day when performing some tasks that don’t require you to move around. That will help you get familiar with it and make it easy for you to sleep at bedtime.

Finally 

You can get the best out of your CPAP machine if you know how to prevent the likely problems you may encounter when using the device. The solutions given above are recommended by expert healthcare providers and CPAP machine dealers. Meanwhile, it is best to allow your doctor to prescribe the right CPAP machine mask for you. They can also help you with some regular troubleshooting and settings adjustments when necessary.

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