Sleep apnea can be a very difficult condition to deal with. Thankfully, there are Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines to improve the severity of your symptoms. They work by pumping air into your lungs while you sleep so you experience less breathing difficulties and the complications that come with it.
CPAP machines are not a one-size-fits-all situation and finding the machine that suits you best may be tricky. To help, here are some tips to find the right machine:
Consider different types of masks
Your options include full face masks, nasal masks and nasal pillow masks. Nasal pillow masks have the lightest weight while full face masks are at the opposite end of the spectrum. However, the weight difference doesn’t necessarily translate to comfort and it may be best for you to try on different masks with your doctor before deciding.
How much of your breathing comes through your mouth will also count; if you breathe through your mouth a lot, the full face masks might be a better fit.
Think about size and compactness of the CPAP machine
This is another factor to consider while choosing a CPAP machine for sleep apnea. If your schedule demands that you travel often, you may want to consider the smaller -sized types for easy mobility.
Listen to the machine
CPAP machines are not the quietest of devices and may interfere with your sleep or that of your partner. Therefore, the noise level from the machine’s motor should be taken into consideration if you’re a light sleeper.
Other factors including cost of the machine, presence of a built-in humidifier, preferred sleep positions, and skin sensitivity could also guide your decision-making.
Even as you consider these, your doctor’s prescription and recommendation should take the highest precedence. CPAP machines are class II medical devices and cannot be purchased without a licensed doctor’s prescription. In addition, the machines have a range of air pressure they deliver and only a doctor can tell you the air pressure that corresponds to the severity of your sleep apnea, and consequently, the model you should purchase.
