How To Treat Sleep Apnea With A Pacap

Transcription

1 A Guide to Finding the Best CPAP Machine for You

2 AUTHOR PAGE: Jesus Lopez Jesus Lopez is the Technical Director for the Los Angeles Sleep Institute and Inland Empire Sleep Medicine. Jesus is a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist who has helped thousands of patients successfully treat Sleep Apnea with CPAP therapy.

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS: A Quick Overview of CPAP.. 4 CPAP, Auto CPAP & BiPAP: WHA?...7 To Humidify or not to Humidify? Who Was that Masked Man and Didjya see his Nasal Pillows? Accessories for Total Comfort...22 Tracking your Success!...23

4 CHAPTER 1: CPAP: A Quick Overview If you are reading this odds are you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. The good news is CPAP is very effective at treating Sleep Apnea. Here s how it works. // Page 4

5 The Nitty Gritty on Continuous Positive Airway Pressure: As you are likely already aware, Sleep Apnea is basically a blockage of the airway which prevents oxygen from being supplied to the body and its vital organs. A CPAP Machine is designed to prevent these blockages from occurring by providing a continuous flow of air to keep the airway open. There are three basic parts to CPAP therapy: the CPAP Machine, the Hose or Tube, and the CPAP Mask. The CPAP machine blows the air, the hose is the highway that delivers the air to the CPAP patient, and the CPAP mask is the delivery mechanism that keeps the airway open. Photo credit: ResMed // Page 5

6 One Study showed a 44% decrease in Sleepiness after only 2 weeks of CPAP Therapy. -Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Alberta via PubMed CPAP is the most common form of treatment for Sleep Apnea. In order to purchase a machine you must obtain a prescription from a doctor. The reason why is that you must first be diagnosed as having Sleep Apnea and the doctor must determine if you are a good candidate for CPAP therapy. You will also need to have your CPAP settings titrated which will ensure you are getting the proper pressure from the CPAP equipment in order to get the most out of CPAP therapy to treat Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea can range from mild to severe, with the latter requiring more pressure than the former. // Page 6

7 CHAPTER 2: The Goods: CPAP, Auto CPAP & BiPAP Now it s time to start looking at CPAP Machines! There are three basic types of CPAP Machines and each has its own features and benefits. Which one will be most effective at helping you successfully treat Sleep Apnea? Let s get started and find out! // Page 7

8 CPAP CATEGORIES // Page 8

9 FURTHER CPAP CONSIDERATIONS Is insurance covering the cost of your CPAP therapy? If so a CPAP machine that tracks data can help to prove you have been compliant about using your equipment. How severe is your Sleep Apnea? If your doctor indicates you have a mild case of Sleep Apnea a basic CPAP unit may work just fine. How much air pressure? If your pressure settings are high, a unit that ramps up the pressure slowly can greatly improve comfort. Some can also do this when you wake up in the middle of the night! Photo credit: Twon (flickr) // Page 9

10 ADDITIONAL CPAP FEATURES Keep these features in mind if any seem like they would improve your comfort level with your CPAP therapy: Altitude adjustment: an important feature for those who live in or travel to high altitude regions. Voltage settings: necessary for those who will use their machine in locales where voltage outlets differ from the standard 120volt/60hertz settings in the U.S. You can check the voltage settings for many countries by clicking here. Noise levels: most machines are so quiet that they barely make any noise. However if you are a light sleeper it s best to focus on machines that are given high marks for being quiet. Pressure relief: many machines have a feature that reduces the influx of air when you are exhaling. This is obviously a nice feature for those who are inhaling a higher pressure level from their CPAP machines. It s not quite BiPAP but it s somewhat similar in concept. Battery powered: If you are a camper or spend time away from an electrical outlet make sure your CPAP can run on batteries. // Page 10

11 Fisher-Paykel CPAP Models Chart is for research purposes only. You are advised to verify that data is accurate and current. // Page 11

12 ResMed CPAP Models Chart is for research purposes only. You are advised to verify that data is accurate and current. // Page 12

13 Respironics CPAP Models Chart is for research purposes only. You are advised to verify that data is accurate and current. // Page 13

14 CHAPTER 3: To Humidify or Not to Humidify: That is the Question Chances are good you will find the cold air being pumped out of your CPAP machine to be uncomfortable. Depending on how dry your environment is humidification may not be necessary. Let take a closer look at CPAP humidifiers. // Page 14

15 As you can see in the graphic, a CPAP hose and mask push air directly down your throat. While this is the beauty of CPAP and is what makes it so effective, the air is dry and cool. This can result in unpleasant side-effects such as: Dry nose Dry mouth Runny nose and sinus trouble Headaches General Discomfort All of these could have a negative impact on sleep, which is obviously counter-productive. Photo credits: ResMed and Sherrymain (flickr) // Page 15

16 The solution? A CPAP humidifier! It works just like your standard humidifier, where the unit heats water and then pushes out warm, moist vapor. With the CPAP humidifier that warm air gets funneled through the tube and then pushed down your airway. Voila! If you have a mild case of Sleep Apnea the pressure may be so low that you can do without humidification. Studies have shown that those who struggle with CPAP generally have better success when they add humidification or use a BiPAP machine. The ultimate goal is obviously to use the technology! Source: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine Want even more help with CPAP? CPAP GUIDE Download our FREE CPAP GUIDE Now! // Page 16

17 A CPAP humidifier isn t essential but for most people it will make therapy much more comfortable. Discomfort is the main reason people stop CPAP therapy. A humidifier is highly recommended for people who live in dry climates, who experience dryness in their mouth and throat, as well as those with severe Sleep Apnea that requires large amounts of air pressure. Photo credit: heatherbroster (flickr) Rainout can occur when you use a humidifier. This is due to the clash between the warm air from the humidifier and the cool air from the room or a fan. There are three options you can use to combat rainout: you can purchase a heated CPAP tube or a tube cover. Another option is to keep the CPAP tubing beneath the covers where the temperatures should remain consistently warm. // Page 17

18 CHAPTER 4: The Lowdown on CPAP Masks Photo credit: ResMed There are three basic CPAP mask designs. In this chapter we will go over each design and discuss which one will likely work best for you. // Page 18

19 CPAP MASK OVERVIEW * A CPAP joke from the Sopranos // Page 19

20 CPAP MASK EXAMPLES Nasal Mask Nasal Pillow Full Face Mask Kid s Nasal Mask Photo credits: Respironics and ResMed // Page 20

21 Fitting your CPAP Mask CPAP masks should fit snugly so no air leaks out the sides, but not so tight as to cause pain. Moisture cream can help to deal with skin irritation from the mask seal. If you have to tighten the mask to the point where it is uncomfortable it is worth considering whether you should try a new mask style that may fit your face better. Photo credit: ResMed // Page 21

22 CHAPTER 5: Accessories for Total Comfort If you decide to purchase a humidifier you may experience water in your tube and mask (called rainout). It is worthwhile looking into purchasing a hose case or cover to help prevent rainout. If the CPAP tube gets tangled a hose management system is an easy way to keep from getting tangled with the tubing. The proper CPAP pillow for your preferred sleeping position can make a big difference when it comes to sleeping comfort. Photo credits: Contour Pillows and Pur-Sleep // Page 22

23 CHAPTER 6: Tracking your Success Nearly every CPAP machine comes with sophisticated software that can track every key metric for your CPAP therapy. This data will help your healthcare professional track your compliance rate which will greatly improve the effectiveness of your CPAP therapy. You can use the attached diary if you like in order to track your own personal experience with CPAP. Hopefully it will help you pinpoint any issues that crop up so you can clear them up and get the most from your CPAP therapy. Image credit: Fisher-Paykel // Page 23

24 CPAP SLEEP DIARY // Page 24

25 DOWNLOAD OUR FREE CPAP GUIDE Click Here to Download We wish you the best of luck on your journey with CPAP therapy! Our FREE CPAP Guide provides tips to help overcome the issues that often cause people to abandon CPAP therapy.