I have been using one since 1993. In two weeks my BP meds were halved. My BP went down, my body regained strength and I am still alive. My heart had enlarged tremendously and this C-PAP helped to lower my BP and my heart Atrophied back to normal. I had the worse Acid Reflux when I went to sleep and this fixed that proplem the first night. All in all. . .get a mask that he will get use to. . .it does help. . .Good luck Nurse Tina, the C-Pap machines today are very quiet. The mask should not be tight and the mask should not blow in anyones face. Sleep aids such as meds can be dangerous to people with obstructive Sleep Apnea, as this can cause the air passage way to close completely while sleeping, and prevent the patient from awakening to reposition their throat and open the airway. So see a doctor before using any sleep aids with this condition.
I am a nurse, and quite a few of my patients come into the hospital with their own CPap machines. There are are nasal masks and full face masks. Suprisingly I see people have more problems with the nasal mask. Here is a list of possible remedies I found online: The mask feels uncomfortable. Because everyone s face has a different shape, you may need to try different masks to find one that fits you well. Your nose feels dry and stuffy. You can try using a humidifier to moisten the air from the CPAP device. Your nose feels blocked up. Some people who have sleep apnea also have nose problems. Ask your doctor if you have a nose problem that can be treated with a nasal spray. Surgery is sometimes also an option. People who breathe through their mouths don t do as well with CPAP nose masks. A full-face mask that covers both the nose and the mouth may help these people The mask bothers your skin and nose. Because the mask must fit firmly over your nose and cheeks, it may irritate your skin. A different size or kind of mask may help. There are also special skin moisturizers made for CPAP device users. Some petroleum-based products can damage the mask, so ask your doctor for more information. Some people also benefit from using nasal pillows that fit into the nostrils and relieve pressure on the bridge of the nose (see the picture below). Using a regular CPAP mask one night and nasal pillows the next night may help you feel more comfortable. The mask leaks air. Some people can t keep their jaw closed while wearing the mask. A chin strap can help hold up your jaw to keep the air in You don t like the pressure. You may find that breathing out against the air pressure keeps you from sleeping deeply. Your doctor may ask you to use a bi-level machine that lowers the air pressure when you breathe out. The same mask may be used with CPAP and bi-level machines. You take the mask off during your sleep or don t wear it every night. Most people can t wear the mask all night long, every night, right from the start. Keep trying, even if you can only use the mask for an hour a night at first. Once you solve your comfort problems, you should be able to increase the time you wear the mask. You just can t get used to the mask. Some people find that wearing a dental device that pushes their tongue forward helps. You may want to talk with your doctor about whether throat or jaw surgery could help.
There s really no easy way to adjust to this, as it s loud, and annoying with the air blowing in your face from a really tight mask. Maybe a sleep aid would work to help him relax during the sleep process.
Well I have not heard that a CPAP machine can prevent stokes, but I know it can help you lose weight. There are other types of masks out there ask your doctor. if there aren t any other mask styles available maybe a sleep aid could help, or a muscle relaxer such as Lorazapam.
I had a friend who needed this thing... CPAP machines make sure you have enough oxygen to live through the night, basically... Use it, and be happy it helps, but make sure you understand how you can STOP using this Machine! Usually weight loss or other means can help you overcome the need for this intrusive monster... Talk to your doctor and find out what can be done to overcome this treatment...
There is an alternative out there. They can do surgery on the inside of your throat to tighten up the quot;skinquot;. But that is expensive, and you will have a hard time finding a doctor to approve it, unless the CPAP doesn t work for you. The best way to get off the CPAP machine legitimately, is to lose weight, sometimes quite a bit. Then you may no longer need it. If you do not use the CPAP machine, your lungs become acidic, and this can cause all sorts of problems with your heart and circulatory system. Not using a CPAP machine is a good way to die in your sleep, if that s what you want. Don t worry, he ll get used to the mask, and he can try new masks that fit and feel better. He ll even get to the point where he can t sleep without one! But definately get the humidifier that goes along with it. One bad thing about them: you can t use when you have a stuffy nose. Sleep apnea can kill you, so you better follow your doctors advice.
hi, i ve worked with CPAP machines before, i am not sure about using it to prevent hypertension or stroke, i ve never heard of it. all i know is that it prevents the patient from apnea (not breathing) during sleep. i do believe however that this might be contraindicated among patients diagnosed with COPD because of the pressure applied. expect your husband to experience some discomfort during the first few weeks of using the machine. is your husband overweight? that is one of the main reasons why a person would have sleep apnea. if a patient has been advised to lose weight, it doesn t necessarily mean that the sleep apnea will go away, but he needs to get tested again (in the sleep lab) if his breathing improves during sleep. most likely, it s permanent, but there are cases when a patient improved and was taken out of the machine. i think the discomfort is the least thing you should worry about. it s better than not breathing at all.
Obstructive sleep apnea destroyed my ability to sleep deeply (and dream) for many years before I went for sleep studies. The impressive snoring that went along with the OSA impaired my wife s ability to sleep anywhere near me. I have been using a CPAP device for 11 months now. At first I had some trouble getting comfortable with the mask and the sensation of constant air pressure, but I adjusted in less than a week. The CPAP device has made an astonishing difference for both of us. I wear one of the nasal masks that leaves most of my face uncovered. The CPAP unit I have is very quiet; its volume is lower than most of the quot;white noisequot; generators I ve heard. I now sleep deeply. I ve stopped feeling tired or drowsy all of the time. I no longer snore! This last has been a great help to my marriage ;-). A couple of suggestions for your spouse. If the mask is uncomfortable, make sure it is properly fitted. If it is, then encourage your husband to keep trying other styles to find one that works. Keep the mask clean, especially the part that touches his face. In addition, he should cleanse his face before putting the mask on at night. Finally, make sure the straps that hold the mask to his face follow the Mama Bear Principle: Not Too Tight (torture!) and not Too Loose (it s windy!) but Juuuuust Right. Good luck. Regarding the relationship between weight and OSA. I am sure there is a positive correlation but people with OSA are not necessarily overweight. Losing weight is probably a good idea for most of us -- it certainly is for me -- whether one has OSA or not.
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