CPAP Wholesale Blog

Finding The Right CPAP Mask For You

After being diagnosed with sleep apnea, many people are prescribed a CPAP machine and possibly a CPAP humidifier. The first few nights might take some getting used to, however, in a very short time your body will adjust to falling asleep with the mask, and after a while you will barely notice it at all. Here are some simple steps to getting used to your CPAP mask and reaping the maximum benefits from this treatment.

Your CPAP Mask

There are several manufacturers of CPAP machines including Fisher & Paykel, Respironics, DeVilbiss, ResMed CPAP machines, each producing many models of CPAP machines. Luckily, any mask can be used with any model. They are available as a nose and mouth mask, a nose mask, a mouth mask or a pillow. Discuss your options with your doctor and take the time to find the model that works best for you.

The first few nights with a new CPAP mask might feel strange, regardless of which model you select. Give yourself time to get used to your CPAP mask and your new bedtime routine. You may find that the use of a CPAP humidifier helps to combat the common problem of the air being too dry. By effectively adding a little extra moisture to the air, a CPAP humidifier prevents air from drying out your air passage, mouth and nose. Additionally, if you have a cold or sinus problems, a CPAP humidifier can help provide relief.

A Good Routine

By developing a sleep routine, you can train your body and your mind to fall asleep more easily and to sleep for longer periods of time. This can mean something as simple as going to bed at the same time each night and waking up at a scheduled time. Most adults require around eight hours of sleep, though you should do what is natural to you. Without adequate sleep, your body cannot heal itself as well, making you more susceptible to illness, injury and disease. A good night’s sleep is necessary to your health and well-being.

The Differences between CPAP Machines and BIPAP Machines

Two distinct types of machines treat sleep disorders: CPAP machines and the BIPAP machine. These two types of machines are similar products that are prescribed to allow patients to sleep throughout the night without interrupted breathing. However, the way that these products function are somewhat different, and requires different air flow settings. While a doctor may determine which machine will work best, it is important for each sleep disorder patient to discuss and learn about the benefits of both.

How CPAP Machines Work

A CPAP machine (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) delivers a constant flow of pressurized air to the airways. Either a CPAP full face mask or nasal CPAP mask is placed over the patient’s face while sleeping, allowing the air to keep the airway passages open. The amount of pressure used is determined by the results of a sleep study, and is programmed in the CPAP machines, which are small enough to fit next to the bed on a table. A CPAP humidifier can also be used alongside the machine to moisten the incoming air to reduce drying of the nasal passages.

How BIPAP Machines Work

BIPAP machines operate very similarly to CPAP machines. CPAP full-face masks and CPAP humidifiers are both usable by BIPAP machines. The major difference is that BIPAP machines have two sleep settings. One is for when the patient inhales, and the other is for when the patient exhales. This makes exhaling while sleeping easier, as the pressure is reduced so the breath does not have to be forcefully exhaled.

The BIPAP machine can also detect if a patient has not taken a breath in ‘x’ amount of time, and gently increases the inhaling pressure to open airways further and to force them to breathe. This breath-timing feature can be activated with a new setting called the ‘target breaths per minute’ that can be determined by the sleep physician. Sleep disorder sufferers often report much better sleep with this type of machine, as their bodies have to work less to exhale throughout the night.

Make sure to discuss the options with a sleep physician to determine the best sleep apnea machine for your specific sleep disorder case.

Causes of Sleep Loss

Sleep has proven to be crucial for the brain to consolidate the day’s memories, for the body to detoxify, and to serve as a period of rest and low energy use which allows organs and tissues to recover from the stresses of the day.

A lack of sleep can occur due to a diverse range of causes. It manifests during the day as decreased alertness, mental function, reflexes, and decreased cognition, as well as negative changes in mood. The changes that result vary widely from person to person.

Although failure to fall asleep as rapidly as a person would like is the most common form of insomnia, waking at odd times of night, or waking too early in the morning, are other common symptoms of sleep disorders. For others, continually waking throughout the night, even sometimes without fully gaining conscious awareness, can also cause a lack of sleep.

While sleep apnea and other sleep disorders can obstruct sleep patterns, most commonly overuse of caffeine or other stimulants such as compounds found in tea are responsible for frequent sleep loss. In other cases, uses of certain types of over the counter medications, such as those used for some allergies, have stimulatory effects which can keep a person awake even late into the night. These problems are usually not extremely serious and can be fixed with simple lifestyle changes or a call to your physician.

Veterans Tested for Sleep Apnea

The US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), which provides patient care and federal benefits for veterans and their dependents, recently reported that more than twenty percent of military veterans now suffer from sleep apnea, a number that has increased by over sixty percent in the past two years. Veterans who experience daytime drowsiness, heart disease, and strokes are now being tested for sleep apnea as well as a possible cause for more serious health issues.

Among the risk factors attributed to the sleep disorder, weight and prolonged exposure to dust and smoke seem to be the most common causes among veterans. Estimated annual spending from the VA for treatment of sleep apnea is an estimated $500 million.

Vacationing With Sleep Apnea

Don’t let sleep apnea make your summer stressful. Leaving town without a way to continue sleep disorder treatment can be dangerous, risking serious health issues like cardiovascular disease and memory problems; however, portable sleep apnea machines are now available with both mobile adaptors and rechargeable batteries.

Portable CPAP units make it possible for obstructive sleep apnea sufferers to leave their bulky CPAP machines, masks, and equipment at home, while still being relieved of symptoms. Some smaller CPAP machines are even as little as four and a half pounds. CPAP systems can run at night with heated humidifiers and recharge during the day wherever power is available, whether hooked up to the wall, or in a cigarette lighter in a vehicle for convenience.

Suffering from sleep apnea shouldn’t prevent anyone from travelling. In fact, living an active lifestyle can even help improve cases of sleep apnea, and technology now allows for the freedom to be active without being tied down to an electrical socket at home.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Truck Drivers, and Your Safety

For the last several years, health organizations such as the National Sleep Foundation, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the American College of Occupation and Environment Medicine have been promoting sleep apnea testing for commercial truck drivers. This is because sleep disorders have been traced back to many accidents — in fact, research shows that sufferers from this ailment are more than seven times more likely to be in an automotive accident.

This shocking news has caught the attention of numerous organizations, such as those listed above, in the hopes that millions of lives can be saved by preventing the occurrence of these accidents. Being alert is critical for drivers and the public when driving on public roads.

Commercial Truck Drivers: Why They are So Susceptible to Sleep Apnea

Lack of sleep can lead to drastic negative effects on mental, physical, social performance. Fatigue can wear down the body over time, causing the sleep deprived to be susceptible to a variety of diseases. One of the most dangerous activities to engage in while sleep deprived is operating a vehicle. Studies have even shown that tired drivers have similar reaction times to drivers under the influence of alcohol. Add a multi-ton semi-truck to the equation and the results can be devastating for drivers and everyone on the road.

In addition to long and repetitive hours, truck drivers with sleep apnea don’t get the regenerative REM rest necessary to recharge the mind and body. This lack of regenerative sleep causes all drives to be slow to react, have poorer decision-making skills, or even to fall asleep at the wheel. This is a true hazard to both driver and public, especially when the driver who falls asleep is handling a long, multi-ton semi.

The most common type of sleep apnea is called “obstructive sleep apnea,” and is generally caused by obesity. When a person becomes overweight, the additional weight on the neck creates a blockage of the throat when the body relaxes. Because truck drivers live a primarily sedentary lifestyle and tend to eat an unhealthy fast food diet, they are more prone to being overweight — and therefore sleep apnea.

Treating Sleep Apnea For Safer Roads

One positive aspect of obstructive sleep apnea is that it is the most treatable. Losing weight through healthy diet and exercise is the most effective way to eliminate sleep apnea caused by obesity. But it doesn’t help patients or make roads safer in the interim. Some will never take the steps to lose weight thought they know they should. Those who diet and exercise will still suffer until the weight is lost.

Continuous positive airway pressure machines (CPAP machines) worn throughout the night splints the airway to prevent blockage and delivers a stream of compressed air through a CPAP mask. With a CPAP machine, the results are immediate. With apneas prevented, the patient can enjoy a full night of healthy sleep, waking rested and alert.

But though truck drivers suffering from sleep apnea should be using CPAP machines at night, how can anyone be certain they are? Trucking companies bear the greatest level of responsibility when it comes to ensuring and enforcing safe driving among their drivers. Advanced CPAP machines have the ability to monitor results and record them electronically – and even to send those results directly to the trucking company headquarters. Trucking companies can monitor who is using or not using their CPAP machines and even gauge the quality of the driver’s sleep. These companies are in the unique position to force drivers to comply with wearing their CPAP machines or else face penalties or even termination.

However, without pressure, many trucking companies are unlikely to integrate these regulations.

If you want to take action to drive change in the trucking company, be vocal. Write to your local congress person, contact trucking companies, or leverage the power of organizations like the National Sleep Foundation, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the American College of Occupation and Environment Medicine. By putting pressure on trucking companies to ensure the safety of their drivers, the roads will be a safer place for everyone.

How CPAP Machines Are ‘Curing’ ADD

A recent study revealed that many people currently diagnosed with ADD may not be ADD at all, but suffering from sleep apnea. It may sound shocking at first, but experts say that the connection between sleep deprivation and ADD is undeniable. Instead of the drugs and chemicals used to treat ADD, many have virtually eliminated all of their ADD behaviors with CPAP therapy.

How Could A Sleep Disorder Be Misdiagnosed as ADD?

The symptoms associated with ADD and sleep deprivation are almost identical; symptoms such as behavioral issues, mood swings, and inability to concentrate for long periods and difficulty adequately completing tasks.

A recent study was conducted in which fifty “ADD” sufferers participated in a sleep study. As the study progressed, it became clear that 66% of the participants suffered from some form of sleeping disorder. This 66% was then asked to wear C PAP machines through the night for three months. In the end, the sleep study revealed that only fifteen of the original fifty people that believed they suffered from ADD actually did suffer from ADD.

How To Distinguish ADD from Sleep Deprivation

ADD and sleep apnea are difficult to diagnose properly without a sleep study because they are so similar. To determine whether you suffer from a sleeping disorder you’ll need to undergo a simple overnight sleep study. During the night, a machine called a polysomnogram will monitor your heart rate and rhythm, breathing patterns, sleep patterns, brain activity, oxygen levels, and muscle tone. A trained expert will monitor your polysomnogram results as you sleep, looking for usual patterns and other information that can lead to a diagnosis.

Common Sleep Disorders

The most common type of sleep disorder is sleep apnea — a condition where a person literally stops breathing for up to a minute or more through the night. The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea caused when the muscles around the throat collapse upon the windpipe when they relax. Each time breathing stops, the person is jolted awake. Surprisingly, many people are not even aware that they are waking constantly throughout the night. A CPAP machine opens the airway and provides a continuous stream of air, allowing the individual to achieve the important deep sleep required for healthy brain and body function.

Lack of Sleep Is Serious Business

Sleep deprivation can cause irreparable damage in many cases, being correlated with a loss of IQ in some, the loss of memory, both physical and mental, as well as causing problems with interactions both personal and work-related. It weakens the immune system, has also been linked to serious diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

What To Do If You Suspect a Sleep Disorder

If you or someone you know is suffering from sleepless nights, or if you believe a misdiagnosis has occurred, we urge you to go in for a sleep study. For many, a CPAP machine that stints the throat and provides a continuous flow of air is a welcome treatment compared with psychotropic medications for ADD. A sleep apnea machine may a simple, natural solution for living a healthy, vibrant, and productive life.

Getting Used To Sleeping With A CPAP Mask

Sleep disorders such sleep apnea can wreck havoc with a person’s ability to sleep throughout the night. People who suffer from these sleep disorders can find relief in using a CPAP machine or BiPAP machine — but only if they’re able to get used to wearing one. If your sleep disorder specialist has recommended using a BiPAP or CPAP machine, you might be wondering if the CPAP mask will be more uncomfortable than the apnea itself!

While CPAP masks may look obtrusive, when you choose the right type for your sleep style you enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep free of apnea and discomfort. Getting used to using a CPAP machine and wearing a CPAP mask can take some practice. Here are three tips to make sure you’re getting a comfortable, restful night’s sleep.

Are You Wearing The Right CPAP Mask?

There are plenty of different CPAP masks to choose from and many are designed especially for people who sleep on their backs or sides. After all, a CPAP mask won’t do you any good if it shifts positions as you move throughout the night.

A nasal pillow CPAP mask has a strap that connects to pillows that fit over your nose connected to a breathing tube. These masks are ideal for people who like to sleep on their sides because it offers full range of movement as you sleep.

A CPAP full face mask is a good choice for people who like to sleep on their backs. These masks typically have a strap that goes around your head and a breathing piece that covers your mouth and nose. It is possible to find masks that cover your entire face or ones that cover your mouth and use small tubes to pump air into your nose. Because there are so many different types of CPAP full face masks to choose from, nearly everyone is able to find a mask that works for their sleeping styles.

CPAP Wholesale has an entire line of CPAP and BiPAP machines to choose from and features some of the most popular brands such as ResMed and DeVilbliss. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the selection process, the staff at CPAP Wholesale is here to help.

Does the CPAP Mask Fit Properly?

CPAP masks aren’t one size fits all devices and if your mask doesn’t fit properly, you won’t be able to get a good night’s rest. Many of these masks come with different sized parts and fully adjustable head straps in order to achieve a truly custom fit. Still others have special gel cushions that you can warm up and mold to your face, guaranteeing a perfect fit.

Sometimes getting the perfect fit on a CPAP mask takes a little trial and error. The customer service team at CPAP Wholesale is just a phone call away if you find you’re having problems with your mask or need advice on a future purchase.

Practice Wearing Your Mask While You’re Awake

A CPAP mask can take some getting used to and you won’t be able to get a good night’s sleep if you’re uncomfortable. Many people have success with practice so don’t feel discouraged if you can’t imagine sleeping with it the first time you put it on. This is definitely a situation where practice makes perfect.

Spend a little time just wearing the mask while watching TV or reading. After you feel comfortable just wearing the mask, turn the machine on to the lowest air pressure setting. As you become used to the feeling of the CPAP mask and the sensation of forced air, a restful sleep is soon to follow.

When Should You Worry About Chronic Snoring?

Chronic snoring can be more than just a minor annoyance for the snorer and anyone else who lives in the same home. If you’re the snorer, you probably wake up feeling as if you haven’t slept at all because people who snore find it difficult to reach the restful REM stage of sleep. If you happen to live with someone who snores, you’ve probably spent many nights on the couch trying to catch a quiet night of sleep or spent nights wide awake listening to your partner struggle to breathe.

Nearly everyone snores once in a while, especially if they are sick. But if you’re snoring every night and feel as if you’re missing out on restful sleep, you could be suffering from a dangerous sleep disorder called sleep apnea.

Types Of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea comes in two forms: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Although these two conditions share a name, their causes and treatments are vastly different.

Obstructive sleep apnea is common in adults and occurs when air cannot get into the lungs. After being inhaled, air must go through the nasal passages, behind the palate, uvula and tongue base, through the throat muscles and finally, between the vocal cords before reaching the lungs. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when there’s a problem with any of these steps.

The causes of an obstructive sleep apnea can be a deviated septum, enlarged palate or uvula, a constriction of the walls of the throat, if the tongue falls backward or being overweight. Being overweight can put additional pressure on the muscles the body uses to breathe, making it difficult to breathe when lying down.

An obstructive sleep apnea can be treated with a CPAP or BiPAP machine. Losing weight is also a great way to eliminate the apnea, but since it can take a while to get the pounds off, it’s a good idea to take advantage of a BiPAP or CPAP machine.

The other type of sleep apnea is known as a central sleep apnea. It’s most common in babies, especially premature ones, or people who suffer from heart disease, cerebrovascular disease or another type of congenital disease. This is because the brain fails to send a message to the muscles that control breathing. If the muscles don’t take that breath, a central sleep apnea occurs.

Central sleep apnea in adults is treated by treating the disease causing the apnea. In babies, there is no treatment. Instead, babies use an apnea monitor, which tracks their breathing. If the monitor detects that 20 seconds have gone by without a breath, an alarm sounds. The alarm will wake both the child and the parents and usually then the child will take a breath. Babies usually outgrow this type of sleep apnea as they get bigger.

Do You Suspect Sleep Apnea?

If you think you may have either central or obstructive sleep apnea, your doctor will likely order a sleep test. This test is one in a sleep disorder lab and you will probably have to spend the night to get the most precise results.

The typical sleep apnea test is a polysomnogram. This painless test is administered by placing sensors on your scalp, face, chest, limbs and finger. Throughout the night, these sensors will record brain activity, eye and muscle movement, your heart and breathing rate, the amount of air you inhale and exhale and the level of oxygen in your blood, all while you sleep. Your sleep disorder specialist will take the results from this test and if needed, diagnose you with sleep apnea.

Using A BiPAP or CPAP Machine

If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you may be required to use a BiPAP or CPAP machine. These machines are designed to help you breathe while you sleep by dispensing air directly into your nose, requiring you to breathe.

A CPAP machine works by forcing your airway open while you sleep. CPAP, which stands for continuous positive airway pressure, keeps the back of your throat open by pumping in a continuous stream of air. These machines are available with a variety of masks, from a CPAP full face mask to a smaller CPAP mask that leaves more of the face uncovered.

A BiPAP machine is similar, in that it applies air to help the user breathe. The main difference though, is that BiPAP applies pressure when the user both inhales and exhales. BiPAP stands for bi-level positive airway pressure and the machine is able to sense the correct pressure for both inhalation and exhalation. While these machines can be used to treat sleep apnea, they are more commonly used for people who are unable to breathe on their own.

If snoring is keeping you or a loved one up at night, consider visiting a sleep specialist. There may be a medical reason and your snoring could be a symptom of a dangerous condition known as sleep apnea. Once you’ve woken up from your first good night’s rest, you’ll wonder why you didn’t call sooner.

CPAP machines assist individuals who suffer from sleep apnea by opening their airways and pumping air into a mask worn while sleeping. This nightly dose of air counteracts the negative effects of oxygen-deprivation commonly experienced by people with sleep disorders. These effects can range from fatigue, difficulty thinking clearly and emotional instability to heart disease, stroke and even death.

CPAP machines are especially useful in hospital settings and for the elderly and infants. People experiencing health difficulties require adequate levels of sleep and air/oxygen more than anyone and CPAP machines provide exactly that.

Hospital Applications

Insufficient sleep and inadequate oxygen levels can significantly slow the recovery process following surgery and other major medical procedures. Individuals with sleep disorders generally bring their machines with them to the hospital. Sleep apnea machines can also be used to help people who don’t normally experience sleep disorders, but because their bodies are compromised due to disease or illness, they benefit from the increased airflow.

Sleep apnea machines greatly reduce snoring, which can create a more peaceful environment for everyone in a hospital setting. Being ill, in an unfamiliar bed, surrounded by the sounds of a hospital staff making their rounds often makes sleeping difficult. The use of a CPAP machine can improve everyone’s sleep and speed the healing process at the same time. They are also useful in preparing surgery patients for their procedure, making them healthier and stronger for the surgery.

Advantages To The Elderly

The elderly experience a specific set of conditions that can compromise their health. Poor circulation, inability to exercise, joint pain and many other factors contribute to their poor health and slow recovery times. Increasing the amount of rest they get each night and increasing airflow, and therefore oxygen, gives them the energy they need to do as much as they can for themselves, resulting in a better self-image and better health.

Congestive heart failure and chronic obstructed pulmonary disease patients can use a CPAP machine to reduce the likelihood of needing an invasive breathing tube inserted into their lungs to drain fluid, cutting down on the possibility of infection and other complications. Additionally, individuals with muscular dystrophy and stroke victims benefit in the same way from the use of sleep apnea machines.

Infants And Premature Babies Benefit, Too

Premature babies and sick infants desperately need airflow and the oxygen that it delivers, but their bodies are not always able to process it without assistance. Premature babies, in particular, are often born with underdeveloped lungs and airways that are simply unable to maintain their structural integrity, collapsing and making breathing nearly impossible. A CPAP unit can provide the airflow they need to receive the oxygen that allows them to heal, grow and develop into healthy, active alert young children.

CPAP machines can be used at different settings, depending upon the individual and their condition. For infants and premature babies, a light setting is usually just enough to keep their airways open and a steady supply of air moving through their lungs. Severely damaged lungs may require a higher setting.

Sleep apnea machines are useful in many applications, not just for sleep apnea patients. Wherever there is a need for a steady airflow, these machines can provide significant, positive results. Regardless of age, illness or medical condition, the restful sleep and high quality supply of air from sleep apnea machines can help reduce healing time, improve energy levels and increase the health and well-being of many people.