Sleep apnea is an under recognized and common medical disorder. According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, approximately 38,000 deaths occur on an annual basis that relates to cardiovascular problems that in one way or another are connected to sleep apnea. Although there are machines available to reduce risk, as many as 80% of patients who say they use their CPAP machine, do not use it enough to keep them safe. Discomfort seems to be the biggest cause of a lack of use. These tips will help you improve the overall comfort of your CPAP nasal masks and CPAP machine.

Choose the right machine
There are many different types of BIPAP and CPAP machines. Finding the right one is important in achieving comfort. It is also important to understanding the differences between BIPAP vs CPAP machines. Auto CPAP machines can improve usage because as long as you turn them on, they automatically work. Working closely with your physician will help you choose CPAP nasal masks and machine that work for you.

Choose the right CPAP nasal masks
The specific CPAP nasal masks that you choose might be more important to comfort than the actual machine. Your BIPAP mask is what will connect to your face. An uncomfortable CPAP or BIPAP mask is usually what causes sleep apnea patients to stop using their machine altogether. There is even a minimal contact full face mask available for those patients that prefer not to feel it at all. Work with your physician and medical supplier on trying out different sleep apnea masks.

Regularly clean your CPAP machine
Both BIPAP and CPAP machines need to be cleaned regularly. Cleaning a CPAP machine is a simple project that can increase the comfort of the machine. When you fail to clean your CPAP machine, you are inhaling dust and other debris that has made it into the mask. Avoiding cleaning for many months can actually worsen the sleep apnea symptoms or can cause the patient to develop other breathing sensitivities. If you are unsure of the best way to clean your machine, you can request assistance from your medical supplier.

Get in the habit of nightly use
Your sleep apnea machine is likely very uncomfortable because you have gone many years without using one. Your body is not used to having a full face mask atop it, while you sleep. It might take some time to adjust and get used to it, but if you stick with consistent use, eventually the CPAP machine will also become normal. For the best results and continued insurance coverage, patients should use CPAP at least 70% of the time over a 30 day period, for at least 4 hours every night.

Your payment could be affected by lack of use
If you used insurance to cover the cost of your CPAP machine or CPAP mask, it is possible that your coverage could be affected, if you do not actually use the machine regularly. Insurance providers can either take back the payment or the machine for lack of use. CPAP and BIPAP machines can be expensive. Insurance providers will not cover the costs if the patient is not benefiting from the daily use of the machine.

Millions of Americans suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is extremely dangerous and can lead to other severe medical conditions. A CPAP or BIPAP machine is the best way to prevent sleep apneas. However, they tend to be uncomfortable, causing many patients to stop use. It is important to find a way to increase the comfort as it could potentially save your life.