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The purpose of a CPAP device is simple. It helps a person who has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) breathe easily during sleep. A CPAP machine increases air pressure in your throat so that your airway doesn't collapse when you breathe in.

Machine Types

There are different brands of CPAP machines that are available. Each one offers something a little different. CPAP’s primary function is to provide continuous positive pressure to the upper airway to help prevent it from collapsing. Most machines today allow for auto adjusting pressures to help detect how much pressure you need throughout the night. This is a nice feature to have for patient’s comfort.

As you can imagine, having constant air moving through the airway can cause some dryness which can be uncomfortable. To assist with this, CPAP machines can come with humidification to relieve the dryness. If the humidifier alone is not enough most machines are capable of using heated tubing to help provide optimal moisture.

CPAP machines aren’t always the easiest to travel with and for the reason there are travel CPAP units. You are able to take these with you on a plane or on your next road trip. Although these units are smaller than your stationary machine, most still have the same comfort features your main unit has along with the auto pressure settings.

Cleaning

A CPAP is used every night and should be cleaned every morning. This can be a tedious task day after day, so an automatic cleaner can help make the process a little easier. The SoClean CPAP Cleaner and Sanitizer makes it so that you don’t even need to take the CPAP apart to have it disinfected from 99.9% of germs. It cleans: the hose, mask and reservoir. It’s important to make sure the air you are breathing is clean each night. 

Replacement

There will come a time when you need to replace your CPAP machine. Generally, a CPAP machine should last you 5-10 years. We advise you to check with your insurance for their coverage criteria, but you can usually replace a machine after 5 years. When you are ready for a new machine or even just routine supplies, you can do so easily on our website by filling out the Refill Form! You can have it billed to your insurance and shipped to your home by filling out our short form. 

Whether you were just recently diagnosed with sleep apnea, or are a long time user of a CPAP device, we’re here to help! Contact CarePro Home Medical with questions today.