What You Need to Know about CPAP

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a technology used to treat a person having breathing problems, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This treatment helps the person to breathe more easily during sleep.

CPAP treatment involves a machine that comes with three main parts: a hose, a mask and a motor. The hose connects the mask to the machine's motor through which air travels from the motor into the mask through the hose. This is a process where air at low pressure is supplied to keep the airways open during the night. You can also use CPAP when taking a nap.

Benefits of using CPAP

The purpose of using the CPAP machine is to breathe easier and sleep better. According to the National Sleep Foundation, a majority of CPAP users have reported immediate symptom relief. They have also reported improved sleep quality and better mental alertness during the day. CPAP has many benefits. Let's take a look at them.

• Improves quality of sleep: Using CPAP to treat your sleep apnea helps you improve your quality of sleep as it reduces the noise of snoring, and prevents pausing of breath. You can restore normal pattern of sleep and feel well rested again.
• Daytime alertness: CPAP treatment improves a person's level of daytime alertness because of an increase in quality and length of sleep.
• Concentration: Many people feel much better after using CPAP. They are less sleepy during the day and their energy levels tend to go up throughout the day. This helps to improve the ability to concentrate.
• Reduces depression: Using CPAP can improve your ability to think, boost your mood, minimize your risks of depression, and can have a positive impact on your overall quality of life.
• Other benefits: In addition, using CPAP can also protect you from health risks such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

Side effects of using CPAP machines

Use of CPAP has side effects in most patients. These side effects are either mask or pressure related. Here are some side effects you may notice because of CPAP machine.

• Feeling of claustrophobia due to the CPAP mask
• Nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing and sinusitis
• Skin irritation
• Stomach or abdominal bloating
• Headaches

Though the side effects are not life-threatening, attention is needed if they turn chronic. Initially when using a CPAP machine, you may find it difficult to fall asleep. However, this problem is usually temporary. Once you get adjusted to the treatment, you will sleep better. You will get the maximum benefit from CPAP by using it long term, as it improves your sleep and your health. With CPAP machine, you may sleep well each night and during every nap.

Medical Support Products Inc. is a respiratory medical supplies dealer and online retailer since 1989. We offer respiratory medical equipment sales, service and rental. We service and repair many types of Respironics equipments like Ventilators, Concentrators, BiPAPs, CPAPs, Smart Monitors and more. We sell and buy used respiratory equipment. Our used respiratory equipment is cleaned and ready to use.

Steve W Kemp is an experienced article writer and marketing specialist in the area of health care industry.