Cpap, Cpap Masks And Searching For The Perfect Cpap Mask

May 13, 2009 - PRLog -- Sleep Apnea is an extremely dagerous condition that significantly lowers the quality of life of untreated patients.  Fortunately, there are two excellent  and effective available treatments.  The most prescribed treatment is a CPAP machine with a mask and a hose that connects to the patient.  The most popular treatment with most patients offered a choice is the use of a comfortable oral appliance to open the airway without a CPAP machine or mask.   Oral Appliances are cosidered a first choice for mild to moderate sleep apnea and an alternative to CPAP for severe apnea.  Information on oral appliance therapy is available at http://www.ihatecpap.com/oral_appliance.html  There are a wide variety of oral appliances available.

CPAP users also have a wide variety of choices.  There are full face and Nasal masks as well nasal pillows or Adams circuits.  There are many devices to help patients deal with problems with cpap.  There are are VPAP or Bipap machines that have different pressures when breathing in and out, there is APAP or autoset CPAP that automatically adjust the pressures, there is ramping that gradually builds up pressure after the patient is  sleeping.  There are humidifiers and heated hoses to increase comfort and a wide variety of methods to keep the mouth closed.  Regardless of the equipment and the masks used studies have shown that only 23-45% of patients prescribed CPAP actually use their machines on a regular basis.

Wikipedia defines CPAP as "A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine was initially used mainly by patients for the treatment of sleep apnea at home, but now is in widespread use across intensive care units as a form of ventilation. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway becomes narrow as the muscles relax naturally during sleep. This reduces oxygen in the blood and causes arousal from sleep. The CPAP machine stops this phenomenon by delivering a stream of compressed air via a hose to a nasal pillow, nose mask or full-face mask, splinting the airway (keeping it open under air pressure) so that unobstructed breathing becomes possible, reducing and/or preventing apneas and hypopneas. It is important to understand, however, that it is the air pressure, and not the movement of the air, that prevents the apneas. When the machine is turned on, but prior to the mask being placed on the head, a flow of air comes through the mask. After the mask is placed on the head, it is sealed to the face and the air stops flowing. At this point, it is only the air pressure that accomplishes the desired result. This has the additional benefit of reducing or eliminating the extremely loud snoring that sometimes accompanies sleep apnea.

The CPAP machine blows air at a prescribed pressure (also called the titrated pressure). The necessary pressure is usually determined by a sleep physician after review of a study supervised by a sleep technician during an overnight study (polysomnography) in a sleep laboratory. The titrated pressure is the pressure of air at which most (if not all) apneas and hypopneas have been prevented, and it is usually measured in centimetres of water (cm H2O). The pressure required by most patients with sleep apnea ranges between 6 and 14 cm H2O. A typical CPAP machine can deliver pressures between 4 and 20 cm H2O. More specialized units can deliver pressures up to 25 or 30 cm H2O.

CPAP treatment can be highly effective in treatment of pages = 6. For some patients, the improvement in the quality of sleep and quality of life due to CPAP treatment will be noticed after a single night's use. Often, the patient's sleep partner also benefits from markedly improved sleep quality, due to the amelioration of the patient's loud snoring."

Care and maintenance of CPAP/BiPAP machines is vital.  Machines and hoses will develop infectious biofilms that can be extremely dangerous when blown into the lungs and sinuse so scrupulous cleaning iof masks and hoses is  recommended.   Wikipedia offers the following advice,  "As with all durable medical equipment, proper maintenance is essential for proper functioning, long unit life and patient comfort. The care and maintenance required for PAP machines varies with the type and conditions of use, and are typically spelled out in a detailed instruction manual specific to the make and model.

Most manufacturers recommend that the end user perform daily and weekly maintenance. Units must be checked regularly for wear and tear and kept clean. Poorly connected, worn or frayed electrical connections may present a shock or fire hazard; worn hoses and masks may reduce the effectiveness of the unit. Most units employ some type of filtration, and the filters must be cleaned or replaced on a regular schedule. Sometimes HEPA filters may be purchased or modified for asthma or other allergy clients. Hoses and masks accumulate exfoliated skin, particulate matter, and can even develop mold. Humidification units must be kept free of mold and algae. Because units use substantial electrical power, housings must be cleaned without immersion.

In cold climates, humidified air may require insulated and /or heated air hoses. These may be bought ready-made, or modified from commonly available materials (aluminium foil and bubble-wrap insulation. Noisy machines may be distanced from the sleeper by extension hoses between the machine and the sleeping person.

Modifications are usually needed by the end-user. Straps are easily twisted wrongly (add hot-melt glue or silicon rubber on the "wrong" side). Fittings and buttons are invisible or without adequate sensation in the darkness of the night, so use bright tape or other fittings (self-adhesive children's earings, masking tape, etc) to help prevent mistakes."

Hepa filters can also be used in the room to decrease particles being sucked into the machine and then into the patient.

There are numerous brands and types of CPAP masks.  A partial list of just nasal masks appears below.  An excellent site to find and evaluate cpap supplies is at http://www.CPAP.com
ComfortGel Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Mirage Swift LT Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear - All Size Pillows (S, M, L)
Ultra Mirage II Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
ComfortClassic Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Profile Lite Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Mirage Swift II Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear - All Size Pillows (S, M, L) Included
Ultra Mirage Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Mirage Quattro Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Breeze SleepGear CPAP Mask with ONE set of Nasal Pillows
Mirage Activa Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
FlexiFit HC431 Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear - All Cushions (S, M, L) Included
ComfortFull 2 Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
FlexiFit HC405 Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - All Sizes (S, L) Included
Nasal Aire II Prong CPAP Mask with Headgear - All-Size Kit
Mirage Swift LT for Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear - Small Size Pillows (XS, S, M) Included
Mirage Activa LT Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Mirage Vista Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
FlexiFit HC407 Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - Standard (Fits Most)
Hybrid Full Face CPAP Mask with Nasal Pillows and Headgear - All Sizes Included
Opus 360 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear - All Size Pillows (S, M, L) Included
 Manufacturer: Respironics Reusable Contour Nasal CPAP Mask
ComfortGel Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Manufacturer: Respironics ComfortGel Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
ComfortSelect Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
ADAM Circuit Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear and One Set of Nasal Pillows
Manufacturer: PMI Probasics Zzz-Mask Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Respironics ComfortLite 2 Cushion and Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask With Headgear
FlexiFit HC432 Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear


Http://www.ihatecpap.com for information on Dental Sleep Medicine and oral appliances.

# # #

information on sleep apnea, sleep apnea treatment and cpap alternatives are available at www.ihatecpap.com This is the premiere site for the promotion of Dental Sleep Medicine and Sleep Apnea Dentisits.