What is CPAP therapy?
CPAP therapy is the process of transmitting more air pressure through your system than you can naturally breathe in on your own. By forcing this extra, continuous air through your system, hazardous moments of oxygen deficiency can be avoided, and a more relaxing night of sleep can happen. A good night’s sleep can have several health benefits: better brain function and sharper memory, clearer skin, weight loss, stress reduction, reduced inflammation, cancer prevention, and much more.
How CPAP Works
CPAP therapy encompasses wearing a CPAP mask while sleeping or taking a snooze. It is placed or fitted over your nose and connected to a CPAP machine through a tube. That special machine then sends pressurized air.
In this therapy, CPAP machines are used to treat sleep apnea by transferring a flow of oxygenated air into your airways through a mask and a pipe. The pressurized air averts your nasal ways from collapsing, which allows you to breathe uninterruptedly during sleep at night.
It is important to buy the correct CPAP mask from stores that sell CPAP masks for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. With so many different mask shapes, styles, and sizes, picking the mask that works well for you can be a little daunting at first.
Make sure you have a CPAP mask that fits your needs and fits you. Everyone has different face structures and shapes
CPAP masks
are used for people suffering from sleep apnea disorder and have been prescribed a CPAP machine. To see if you have sleep apnea and need a CPAP machine, see a doctor who specializes in sleep treatment so they can give you an at-home sleep therapy from the ease of your own home. Sometimes physicians prescribe an Auto CPAP machine with a heated humidifier to avoid mouth dryness and send moisturized air through tubing.
Types and advantages of CPAP Masks:
Generally, three types of CPAP masks are used with a CPAP machine for your convenience- Nasal pillows, nasal CPAP masks, and a full-face CPAP mask.
Nasal Pillows:
They are small and compact, and semi-inserted into the nasal passages that provide minimum facial contact. They are recommended for people who require least to average air pressure. They are ideal for people who breathe through their nostrils more than their mouth, for individuals who budge more and turn aside while sleeping, and for individuals who have a lot of facial hair or have claustrophobia. Buying this mask from stores that sell CPAP masks is a wise decision if you need a clear obstacle-free field of vision for reading or other nighttime tasks.
Nasal CPAP Mask:
Mask covers the part from the bridge of your nose to your upper lip and is generally recommended for people who require high pressure. It offers more mask varieties because there are many sizes and fits available and is the most prevalent of the three because it is perfect for individuals who change their sleeping positions and move around repetitively through the night. ResMed AirFit N20 and ResMed AirFit N30i are the best examples of Nasal CPAP Mask.
Full Face CPAP Mask:
Full face CPAP mask covers a major portion of your face, mainly your nose and mouth. It delivers the most efficient volume of air pressure to anyone who needs more or less air pressure. It is ideal for mouth breathers and people who sleep on their backs. The Fisher & Paykel Simplus full-face CPAP mask is the perfect mask for custom comfort and freedom every night. Its innovative and lightweight design reduces pressure and prevents red scars on your skin.
A full-face mask is the right choice if you suffer from nasal hindrances or other congestion that prevent easy nasal breathing.
Who Should Get CPAP Therapy?
A person with obstructive sleep apnea should consider CPAP therapy. A physician can properly diagnose and confirm whether CPAP therapy is necessary and prescribe a good CPAP machine.