How CPAP works – CPAP Tips for Effective Use - Sleeping with a CPAP made Easy

Help for CPAP patients General Problems

Here you will find out the ways to overcome the widespread problems associated with CPAP users.

New CPAP users will find the following guidelines useful.

Beginning Your CPAP Treatment

The patient is ready to start his consultation regarding CPAP treatment immediately after he is diagnosed with sleep apnea. The introductory visit of about an hour is likely to produce conformity results.

Your bed partner is highly encouraged to take part in this initial visit and boost up a supporting method. This is vital in getting conformity with CPAP experience and getting CPAP assistance from your bed partner.

In a real scenario, the home service healthcare providers and general physicians would offer enhanced customer care service and assistance. They are likely to provide different mask options and give due time to make sure that we can select the appropriate mask that fits our individual needs.

Unluckily, the same does not happen at all times. This is the reason; you require additional information and facts to talk about and get acquainted with guaranteeing your achievement with CPAP therapy.

Guidelines to Make Better Your CPAP Treatment

1. CPAP Mask Fitting

Fitting of CPAP Mask

Majority of people are of the opinion that the CPAP mask is the basis of PAP treatment and various masks are handy for CPAP users. But, the difficulty is to choose the one that fits your individual face.

A great number of masks are available in the market these days. Even then only 5 possibly will fit your face out of 100. Therefore, choosing the exact mask is of great importance. You can bet!

Importance of Fitting Mask

The size of the mask must be correct and precisely in sync. You should take care that the mask should be loose enough so that it cannot irritate your skin or put strap marks on your face. Additionally, it should not leak.

Why choosing the right size mask is so troublesome?

Our distinctive facial textures make it difficult to choose the correct size of the mask.

Majority of the mask, manufacturers agree that 80% of populace finds our manufactured masks fitting to their needs. Maybe they are right but it also indicates that the remaining 20% of the populace have trouble. 

So, if you are having difficulties in the mask, possibly then you are in that suffering 20% populace.

Buying a shirt in different sizes (small, medium, large or extra-large) is simple but not with masks. The majority of masks come in a similar size, but it’s their internal cushion that is differently sized (small, medium, large or extra-large, etc).

Suppose your mask is big enough for the face and meets higher on the bridge of your nose or lies towards the sinus region or pushes the tender skin beneath the eyes, and your mask leaks in the eye region that you attempt to prevent and pull your mask straps on and on to the extent that you feel hurt.

In case of the narrow upper lip, your mask frame bottom will rest on the top of your lip, which will bring pain from over-tightening or leaking.

So, I suggest that you may have noticed your facial makeup before several times, however, once again closely notice your face in the mirror and observe the following details carefully:

1.   The face length from chin to hairline

2.   The forehead length

3.   The length of your nose

4.   The nose base width

5.   The upper lip width (the area from the nose base to the start of top lip)

6.   The width of the area between the eyes

7.   The chin-length

8.   The head size

9.   The nostrils size (are they same or varying size)

10. The roundness and elongation of the nostril

After considering all these details, you may realize the reason for the difference in our faces and thus no one size mask can fit all or majority of people.

Moreover, sizing is different in different companies. For instance, you will discover that if a medium-size mask of one company fits you but the medium size of another company won’t. You need to try different masks until you find the one that fits you properly.

As you are looking for a comfortable mask that does not leak during sleep at night, so the best way to check is putting on the mask while your CPAP machine is on and resting in the sleep pose.

TIP:

Keep in mind that you cannot choose the right mask in the shop because masks adjust in a different way while you stand, sit or lay in your bed.  

You may believe them perfect at that time, but all changes when you lay in the bed with your mask and machine are on with a specified pressure.

How to be sure that you are buying a perfect mask?

While choosing your mask, make sure that concluding decision can only be made while you are in your bed with your mask and machine is on adjusted at the required pressure by a professional.

How to get a perfect fastening?

First lose the straps of your mask and then gradually pull till the time you get a perfect fastening. If the size and style of your mask are accurate, you will be amazed knowing that you can still have a perfect fastening even after the considerable looseness of the straps. 

If you over tighten the straps that means your mask is not of the accurate size and style because you are not required to fasten the mask to the extent that it starts giving you irritation and pain.

Majority of masks are manufactured in a single standard size for everyone. But, if your head is small, you can still find a few masks available in a smaller size. You may have to order it specially, but you can get it.

Why the leakage occurs in CPAP masks?

If the bridge of your nose is narrow, you may find leakage in the region of your eyes. Look for small size frames or think about nasal pillows to overcome the leakage problem.

In the case of the thin upper lip, you possibly will discover that majority of conventional masks are not fitting properly on your face. In this situation, think about using nasal pillows or look for the smallest size mask.

In general, nasal masks are simpler in use because they are comfortable and convenient to use. However, full-face masks are required for people who breathe from their mouths.

It is obvious now that there is no such sole mask that can fulfill everybody’s need and hence you need to maintain a variety of full-face and nasal masks.

2.  Making use of Ramp Functionality

Ramp functionality is offered in many CPAP devices like Bl Flex and A-Flex Respironics, C Flex, and EPR ResMed.

This functionality is controlled by the patient and will decrease the air pressure repeatedly while breathing out, however, only to the 3 cm h20 pressure points extent.

CPAP is issued to the majority of patients as it is economical and suits well to the majority. However, if you require a low level to average level pressure, it might suit you.

On the other hand, there is an AutoPaP machine for some sufferers that functions similar to CPAP but you can still exhale over the inhalation pressure that it delivers.

3. BiPAP in place of CPAP

BiPAP can be used in place of CPAP but being most costly it is hardly exposed or talked about with the sufferer. It is a matter of disgust as it can help the disappointed patient.

BiPAP is only recommended to the patient after the failure of CPAP or when he is ready to quit.

You can use the BiPAP if you are having difficulty in breathing out over the steady AutoPAP or CPAP pressure. The BiLevel device can give you new life, so you should not be shy asking about it.

I wish that you will find these guidelines helpful and give you the last tip that the selection of the exact CPAP device should be your own responsibility.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2335396/

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta139

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/sleep-apnea-and-cpap-devices-and-accessories.html

http://www.rch.org.au/rchcpg/hospital_clinical_guideline_index/Continuous_Positive_Airway_Pressure_(CPAP)_and_Non-invasive_Ventilation_(NIV)/

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