Tag: how to use a cpap machine

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 Signs You May Need To Buy A CPAP Machine

5 Signs You May Need To Buy CPAP Machines

Posted on by Sara Larcombe

When you see people with CPAP machine fixed to their nose while sleeping, what do you think? In most instances, it appears that people who uses that machine are struggling with severe sleep disorder or their lives are already in a worsened condition. 

Well, that is not always the case. Although, CPAP machines are the gold standard for solving sleep disorders whether at mild or severe level. Yet, it is not until your life is in danger that you consider buying the breath-assisting device, buy cpap machines is good for solving minor sleep problems like snoring, waking up at intervals at night, having a bad day and the likes.

It is alarming that many people are already CPAP patient they don’t know because they have not been diagnosed. Based on research, about 60% of the world population don’t have the best quality sleep every night. While some indulge in taking sleeping pills at bedtime and become addicted overtime, others rely on injections to fall asleep. Click here to known common problems of CPAP machines.

On the negative side, people who rely on sleeping pills don’t always wake up active. Many complain of feeling weak, tired, or unmotivated to get out of bed and pursue their daily goals. Should you also be a victim of poor sleeping habits? No!

Quality sleep is important to your everyday living. It has significant effects on how productive you would be in handling your daily tasks throughout the day. Inadequate sleep will sap your energy, keep you lazy and make you feel sleepy at work. More than that, poor sleep can put you at the risk of developing severe health complications such as heart attack, stroke and type 2 diabetes. 

Sleep apnea is of the most commonly known sleep disorder. When it becomes hard for you to breath appropriately when sleeping, you need to speak with your healthcare provider to conduct a diagnostic sleep study. From professional point of view, when your breath start and stop while sleeping, it can be one of the two kinds of sleep apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) or Central Sleep Apnea (CSA). 

OSA blocks or collapses your airways to affect your breathing while CSA happens with neurological disorders or heart diseases. Whichever one you are diagnosed with, CPAP machine is one of the best solution available for you in the medical world. 

Are you a sleep apnea patient? You will discover in this diagnostic guide. Below are the most common symptoms that suggest you have the frustrating sleep disorder which means you need to consider getting a CPAP machine.

5 Signs You May Need To Buy A CPAP Machine

5 Signs You Might Need A CPAP Machine 

1. You are snoring loudly

Snoring is one of the minor sleep disorders that requires the need of CPAP machine. Though snoring may not affect you directly, but giving your bed partner a good night rest should be a top concern for you. 

Snoring is mostly a symptom of Obstructive sleep apnea. The loud noise that comes from your snore is a result of turbulent air that makes the soft tissues in your airways vibrate. When sleeping, the tissue in your nasal passages and the back of your throat will relax. Your tongue will also collapse at the back of your throat and shrinks the airways to create the turbulent air. 

There are a number of factors that can make you snore while sleeping. They may include weight gain, age, excessive alcohol intake, and wrong sleep position.no matter what might the cause of your snoring, the best thing to do is to find a to widen your airways to keep it free of the turbulent air and obstruction that causes snoring. Getting a CPAP machine can give you the perfect result.

2. You stop breathing at intervals while sleeping

Of course, it can be hard for you to know if you stop breathing at some point when sleeping. Why? You might have been in a subconscious state of mind. However, you bed partner or neighbor can be your guardian angel watching how you do during sleep. 

When your breathing pauses when sleeping, it is a clear symptom of sleep obstructive sleep apnea. This condition occur when your airway tissue blocks your upper airway. That blockage in your airways caused your tongue to fall against the throat or soft palate thereby causing an obstruction that makes breathing difficult. Once you notice this condition, CPAP machine is god for you.

5 Signs You May Need To Buy A CPAP Machine

3. Waking up at intervals when sleeping

Some people cannot sleep for an hour at a stretch. They could wake up about five times or more before daybreak. While you might take it for an advantage if you are a night worker, it is a symptom that you are struggling with central sleep apnea. If you have been experiencing this condition recently, it is best to visit your healthcare provider for a detailed diagnostic test. Chances are that you need a CPAP machine to assist your breathing all through the night. 

4. You are waking up with a dry or sore throat 

If can be frustrating to wake up everyday with a dry or sore throat. Especially if you don’t know the actual cause, you may have to try some ineffective corrective measures. From a medical point of view, people that wake up with sore or dry throat are most likely experiencing poor sleep quality.  Though there are a number medication that can solve the dry throat condition but the best yet recommended remains CPAP machines. 

5. You have difficulty falling asleep 

Do you always find it difficult falling asleep when it is bedtime? That could be a sign that you need a CPAP machine. Inability to sleep is associated with obstructive sleep apnea. Most people who don’t sleep easily don’t get to sleep until dawn approaches and that may cause sleepiness throughout the day. It may also affect your physical and mental health, cause frequent headaches or make you lose concentration. 

Finally

CPAP machine is not for only people with severe sleep problems. If you have been noticing any of the above symptoms, you need to visit your doctor for proper diagnosis to determine the actual cause and solution. Your doctor will also guide you on what kind of CPAP machine and accessories suits your custom needs. 

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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