Sleep Apnea Is Often Best Handled by A CPAP Machine

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that is potentially serious; if you have sleep apnea, your breathing repeatedly stops and restarts during your slumber. You may snore loudly and wake feeling tired even at the end of a full night's sleep. If you think these symptoms sound familiar, consult your doctor. Treatment with a CPAP machine can ease the symptoms and help prevent complications.

Sleep apnea can come in central, complex or obstructive types. Obstructive is the most common. It causes throat muscles to relax, which in turn blocks airways. Central sleep apnea fails to send proper signals to those muscles in charge of controlling breathing. And in complex sleep apnea syndrome, both the throat muscles relax and the brain does not send those proper signals to control breathing. Symptoms of the types of sleep apnea overlap. The most common ones include:

• Obstructed Breathing
• Waking With Dry Mouth
• Waking With Headaches
• Loud Snoring
• Gasping for Air
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Difficulty Paying Attention

Talk to your doctor when you have any sleep problems causing you to feel fatigued, irritable, and sleepy. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, expect to try out a CPAP machine.

How Does a CPAP Machine Work?

CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, machines utilize a hose along with a nose piece or mask to deliver you constant, steady air pressure. You might worry about trying to sleep with straps everywhere fastening you to a noisy machine by way of a long tube. It can be an overwhelming prospect. But understanding how it works can soothe worries, and the reality of most modern machines is that they are whisper-quiet and as unobtrusive as possible, providing you with breathing security with minimal disturbances.

A CPAP Machine works by strapping one of three types of masks to your face to hold them securely and then giving a steady flow of air. These types are a nasal mask going over the nose, a nasal mask that fits under the nose, and a full mask, covering both the nose and the mouth. Provided that the mask is sealed so that air pressure from the hose stays steady and constant, the CPAP does its job. When you first get a CPAP, your doctor will assist you in determining the level of pressure the machine should be set for.

Best CPAP Machines

The best CPAP machines offer humidifiers to ensure the steady air does not dry out your mouth and throat. Machines vary; some are travel-sized, some vary the levels of pressure through the night as your breathing needs change, some provide constant pressure. The whooshing sound of modern machines is quite quiet, to the relief of CPAP users and their partners alike. Modern CPAP machines also pair well with smartphones, sending data to you and your doctor or using SD cards to track your numbers. Two examples of the best CPAP machines are:

• AirStart 10 CPAP with HumidAir Heated Humidifier by ResMed uses an SD card for compliance tracking. The built-in heated humidifier keeps your airways comfortable, and pressure relief makes exhaling easy.
• DreamStation CPAP Machine with Heated Humidifier and Heated Tube by Philips Respironics is among the most silent of machines available, checking in at a mere 25.8 decibels. Your sinuses will not dry out thanks to the heated tube and humidifier that permit you to breathe in moist, warm air.

CPAP Maintenance

CPAP machine upkeep is fairly simple. Wash your mask daily with mild, non-fragrant soap and warm water. You can also purchase specific wipes for the purpose. Rinse with water, allowing the mask to air dry out of direct sunlight. Before mask use at night, wash your face well, not using moisturizers. Once a week, soak the mask in a solution made up of three parts water to one part vinegar. Rinse in distilled water.

Head straps should be washed as necessary by hand using soapy water at a warm temperature and let to air dry out of direct sunlight. The hose should be placed to soak in warm, soapy water a few times a week, rinsed well, and also let to air dry. These practices help keep you healthy when using your CPAP machine for your sleep apnea.