Continuous positive airway pressure uses straightforward principles to alleviate common sleep complaints. It may be helpful if you’ve had issues with snoring, sleeplessness, or headache. However, before moving forward, it’s important to understand the treatment. Here’s what everyone should know about CPAP therapy.
What Does CPAP Therapy Treat?
Exerting positive pressure on your airways prevents them from closing while you sleep. As such, it may help reduce the incidence of snoring and other disruptions. So, if you’ve been waking up in the middle of the night, wearing a CPAP machine can help. Once it’s on your face, it’ll stop your throat from slamming shut in the night.
Since CPAP machines force the airways open, you’ll get plenty of oxygen while sleeping. So, you’ll have fewer issues with concentration if you’ve been using one of them.
Most machines use a simple one-phase design, but some of them are bi-phasic. A BiPAP machine could produce better results, depending on your personal circumstances. So, they may be worth considering if your doctor has mentioned them to you.
When Should You Consider CPAP Therapy?
Not everyone benefits equally from CPAP therapy, but it treats a wide range of conditions. If you’ve felt tired after sleeping, your brain may not be getting enough oxygen at night. Sometimes, that happens because your airways collapse once your muscles have relaxed. Then, less oxygen than usual makes it into the blood, depriving you of it.
If you don’t correct oxygen deficiencies like that, you’ll suffer in the morning. For example, a ton of people have dealt with headaches, thanks to stuff like this. Fortunately, you can fix most of the issues by using a CPAP device. As long as it stays on throughout the night, you’ll get plenty of O2 by morning.
How to Set Up a CPAP Machine?
The main problem encountered when wearing a CPAP mask is that of leaks. If your mask doesn’t fit over you tightly, it won’t maintain positive pressure. Of course, you don’t want to use a leaky hose if one of yours has sprung a leak.
So, test all the connected hoses before turning on the device. If it is brand-new, you probably won’t have any leaks. However, some of the newest machines spring them from time to time.
Once you’ve found a well-fitting mask, try it out at home for a few nights. If you don’t notice an immediate improvement, you may not be suffering from sleep apnea. Still, if that is what’s been causing your problems, you’ll know right away. The morning will feel so much better since you’ve had plenty of O2 all night.
How to Sleep While Wearing a CPAP Mask?
Some people seem to have trouble sleeping if they have a mask on. Thankfully, it’s not hard to overcome that with a bit of practice.
Try wearing it somewhere other than the bedroom at first. Then, you can move it into the bedroom once it feels more comfortable. Starting somewhere else won’t feel as strange once it’s time for bed. Then, it shouldn’t be as tough to fall asleep after you’ve put the mask on.
Another way to make wearing it easier is using a low-pressure setting. As the night goes on, you can slowly raise the pressure. That’s what’s made it so much easier for some to sleep, even if they struggled at first.
Alternatives to CPAP Machines?
Even though CPAP machines may be useful, they’re not the only option available. One of the latest advancements has been the use of laser-based treatments. Removing a bit of flesh from the back of the throat can open airways permanently. Then, you don’t have to wear anything while sleeping to notice an improvement. Plus, once you’ve woken up, you’ll still have better O2 saturation. As a result, you should feel much better during the day, brightening up everyone’s mood.
Understanding the Benefits of CPAP Therapy
CPAP devices exert positive pressure to force your airways open. If you have been closed at night, you may feel more tired than usual. Without a machine to help, sleep might not feel restful, and you’ll suffer. Thankfully, it’s not hard to treat this condition if you have a reliable doctor. They can help fit you with a mask that will make your sleep feel better.