Top Tips from CPAP Machine Experts

Starting CPAP therapy is a big deal. You’re used to spending your nights—restless though they may be—undisturbed. But when you start your CPAP treatment, you’re suddenly attaching yourself to a machine that blows air through your nose.

Even thinking about it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, that need not remain the case. We’ve put together a list of tips here that can help you adjust to and maintain the CPAP machine so you can get the most out of your therapy.

Adjusting to the Machine

You are the main subject when it comes to your therapy. If you’re going through the steps of CPAP therapy and not doing everything you can to give yourself comfortable, restful sleep, then you’re going about the treatment all wrong. Do what works for you.

Mask

Some CPAP masks cover most of your face. While this means the mask will be more secure and allow you to breathe through your mouth more easily, you might find it cumbersome. If so, you have plenty of other mask options to figure out what configuration works best for you.

Noise

If the noise of CPAP therapies past makes you anxious about your treatment, don’t worry. Most CPAP machines are pretty silent with today’s technology.

Air pressure

If you find yourself having trouble adjusting to the constant pressure in your airways, you’re not alone. This overwhelms plenty of CPAP therapy patients, but once again, you’ll have plenty of options to give yourself the best chance for comfort.

Many machines these days come with a “ramp” feature. As the name suggests, the machine starts the continuous pressure stream lower while you’re still awake, and then “ramps” up the pressure to your default once you’ve fallen asleep.

If even that doesn’t work, other treatment options like bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) are available. You can talk to your care provider or check out this list for more ways to do what works for you.

Maintaining the Machine

Once you’ve ensured you’re good to go, your next step is ensuring your machine is in working order. This is a continual process of maintenance. Each part of your CPAP machine is vital to its function, and each one requires different kinds of maintenance.

1. Tubing needs to be free from obstructions (just like your airways!) and cleaned regularly. You should check for tiny holes that can compromise the tubing’s ability to provide consistent pressure.
2. Masks should fit snugly against your face. This necessary seal ensures you won’t have to worry about your nose drying out or the machine’s pressure faltering near your face.

The same maintenance and timely replacement guidelines (specific replacement timelines depend on the model) go for other parts of the machine as well.

Oh, and while you’re cleaning your machine, make sure not to spill water or other fluids where they could short circuit the device—and void your warranty.

Hopefully, these tips have been a good primer for your first steps into CPAP therapy. Remember: do what works for you, consult your doctor with any questions about the effectiveness of your prescription, and do the work necessary to keep your machine working at its best.