Many people are familiar with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) masks as the first line of sleep apnea treatment. However, nearly 50 percent of people who try wearing a mask while sleeping can't tolerate the mask and therefore don't experience relief.
Sometimes CPAP is not tolerated because sleep is poor, or fragmented due to other issues such as anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, poor sleep habits, or circadian disorders.
The restrictive mask on your face. It can be a lot to adjust to. Studies suggest that from one-third to more than 50% of patients either stop using their CPAP machine or never bother to fill their prescription.
The main drawback of CPAP is that many people find it uncomfortable. Some people may stop using their CPAP machine because they can't get used to it or feel claustrophobic. People who can't tolerate CPAP shouldn't let their sleep apnea go untreated.
Wearing the mask alone for some time during the day may help you get used to how it feels and make it easier to fall asleep at night. Machines with the ramp feature that slowly and gradually increase the air pressure to your prescribed pressure setting as you fall asleep may make you more comfortable at bedtime.
CPAP machines deliver constant positive air pressure. If you require high pressure in your CPAP therapy, or simply can't get used to wearing a CPAP mask, the air pressure may make it difficult for you to fall asleep.
It may seem overwhelming at first, but go easy on yourself and give it some time. Know that you're not alone, many users feel the same way when starting out. Work closely with your sleep medicine specialist and your CPAP equipment supplier to make sure you have the right mask.
While most CPAP users adjust well to their therapy, some people may find it difficult to exhale against the continuous flow of air. This can lead to the sensation of shortness of breath even though enough air is allowed. First, try your CPAP machine's exhalation relief settings.
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to higher risk for high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias and atrial fibrillations, increase the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, as well as strokes. Doctors say it's also contributing to dementia.
Adjust pressure
You may require a new pressure setting for your CPAP machine when you change your lifestyle, like weight gain or loss or giving up cigarettes or alcohol. Adjusting your machine to a lower pressure that better suits your current lifestyle can dramatically change the comfort of treatment.
It's certainly not set in stone that everyone must use a CPAP machine forever, but stopping isn't in the cards for everyone. Those who may be able to eventually retire their CPAP typically have modifiable factors contributing to their condition that need to be better managed.
Both the recommended replacement schedule and the insurance guidelines agree: the average lifespan of a CPAP machine is 3 to 5 years.
®" Here's why. While CPAP is highly successful when used properly, many patients have trouble complying with the directives, leaving only 23% - 45% of patients who have success with the CPAP method. When used as directed, however, the success rate of CPAP is nearly 100%!
Check the mask fit: Make sure the mask is properly adjusted and fitting snugly to your face, but not too tightly. Adjust the pressure: The pressure setting on your CPAP machine may be too high. Talk to your doctor or sleep specialist about adjusting the pressure to a more comfortable level.
CPAP is the most common treatment for snoring and sleep apnea, and it can be very effective for many people. However, not everyone who tries a CPAP finds relief from their snoring.
Mouth Breathing on CPAP
1 Over time, this may also lead to problems with your gums or teeth. Most importantly, it may reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of your treatment.
Compared with patients with poor continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) compliance, patients with good CPAP compliance saw improvements in lung function after 12 months.
You have air constantly blowing at you during the night when you use a CPAP, which is challenging to become accustomed to. I choose not to use the humidifier option on the machine, so I breathe dry air all night and can wake up with a really dry throat. CPAP machines also emit a dull noise, which kept me up at first.
Some patients feel better after the first night of use. Others may require a week or two to get accustomed to the treatment. Various factors determine how quickly you get accustomed to the CPAP machine.
That said, it's important to be aware that anxiety can be a side effect of CPAP use too, especially in the beginning. Patients who are new to CPAP may experience panic attacks and feelings of claustrophobia, because they are not used to wearing a CPAP mask.
CPAP treatment may be able to alleviate brain fog when apnea is the culprit. This is a subject of ongoing research. One study has shown that CPAP treatment may delay the progression of cognitive impairment that can result from breathing-related sleep disorders.
For patients with mild sleep apnea, there are other excellent CPAP alternatives available, like custom-fit dental appliances. Losing weight, sleeping on your side and avoiding sleeping on the back can also help reduce snoring. Getting good, refreshing sleep significantly improves quality of life.
Even people with moderate or severe sleep apnea can find that they get worse sleep with CPAP than they did before they started using the machine. For most people with mild sleep apnea, CPAP is usually more trouble than it's worth. CPAP-related problems lead to more waking than sleep apnea ever did.
However, CPAP machines are known to be effective quite quickly. Some people feel better after the first night that they use them. Others find that they take a week or two to get used to using the CPAP therapy. This is dependent upon a few factors, one of which is how much your sleep apnea was affecting your sleep.
Despite the serious health ramifications, studies have shown that about half the people who are advised to use a CPAP machine abandon it within a year, and many even sooner. Some studies have estimated long-term adherence is as low as 30 or 40 percent. That means that if you're a CPAP dropout, you're far from alone.