What is a CPAP Machine?

CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. This machine is considered the gold standard treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and ensures that you are breathing continuously throughout the night while you sleep.

A CPAP machine is a small box with a motorized fan inside that is connected to a tube that leads to a breathing mask, that you wear. The fan gently pressurizes the mask and delivers air to your nose and/or mouth (depending on which type of mask you get) as needed. This results in no more lapses of breathing at night.

CPAP machines also have a humidification chamber built in so that you don’t get a dry, scratchy throat/mouth or nasal passage. While a humidification chamber is optional, it’s generally recommended as a lack of humidification can irritate the nasal passage and throat.

How Does a CPAP Machine Work?

As said, a CPAP device has a small fan inside that delivers gentle, positive pressure through a connected hose to the breathing mask. The hose is a lightweight, flexible tube that is kept warm to reduce condensation.

Because positive pressure is always delivered to your breathing passageway, it will not collapse when your throat muscles relax. Without a CPAP, your airway would, otherwise, become blocked (e.g., by your tongue or tonsils).

The pressure can be a little strange at first, but people rarely report any long-term problems associated with it.

Why Use a CPAP Machine?

Without CPAP therapy, OSA would interrupt your breathing anywhere from 5 to 100 times per hour. Each time you stop breathing you have to wake up to begin breathing again, eventually leading to severe sleep deprivation.

Long-term consequences?

• Shortened life expectancy
• Lower quality of life
• Lower performance in all areas of life
• Heart problems

Increasing longevity is a great motivator for using CPAP therapy. For example,  Hall of Fame football player Reggie White died at the age of 43, largely, due to not wearing a CPAP machine.

Are CPAP Machines Effective?

CPAP machines have been a proven and extremely effective therapy for most people for over 30 years. Comments from users have often included statements, like:

• I can’t sleep without it
• It changed my life
• I’m so much happier since I started using it

Poor sleep is an uncommon complaint of CPAP users. It’s an extremely effective therapy for sleep apnea and chronic snoring. However, wearing the mask is an adjustment. New users have noted:

• The mask takes a few days to get used to
• The positive air pressure is strange at first
• Some variations don’t work with my face shape
• I have to switch between a couple of types (full-face mask, nasal mask) to avoid strap marks
• It’s a little uncomfortable to get to sleep

Overall, any discomfort associated with wearing a CPAP is far outweighed by their effectiveness in treating sleep apnea and related health problems.

See forum where people discuss CPAP effectiveness.

Tips for Wearing and Caring for a CPAP Machine

Here are some tips for wearing and taking care of your CPAP machine:

• Masks wear out. Replace them on a regular schedule.
• Having multiple types of masks that you can switch between is an effective way to mitigate problems associated with constantly wearing one type of design.
• Keep your CPAP mask and hose clean! You can buy a spray or solution for good prices.
• Traveling with full-sized CPAP devices can be a bit cumbersome, but travel CPAP devices are available.
• Try different masks before settling on one – different masks and brands may fit your face better than others.
• Wear your CPAP machine as many nights as possible. The goal is to wear it every night, but a few missed nights is okay.

Getting a CPAP machine starts with a sleep apnea diagnosis. If you live in Alaska and are concerned about your sleep, please click the button below to get in contact with our office and begin your sleep medicine consultation.