Monday, March 21, 2022

The Don’ts of CPAP Usage

Don’t change your machine’s prescription settings

CPAP air pressure is a prescribed substance (even if it’s pressurized air). Just like you shouldn’t change a medication dosage without first consulting your doctor, you shouldn’t mess with your pressure settings. You could damage your machine, void your warranty, or make your therapy less effective — even intolerable — by doing so.

Don’t ignore your machine’s comfort settings

Your CPAP machine offers settings related to temperature, humidity, and comfort that you’re welcome to adjust. If you’re unsure if you should make changes or don’t know how to make the changes, you can either consult your user’s manual or call your sleep clinic for support from an equipment expert.

Don’t elevate your CPAP machine higher than your head

Make sure your machine sits at or below the height of your reclining head. Otherwise, water that collects in the hose could drain directly into your nose rather than back into the chamber.

Don’t put your CPAP machine on the floor

The air intake on your machine is more likely to suck in particulate matter closer to the floor if you do so. Pets can more easily access your machine, increasing damage risks.

Don’t forget to wash your face before using CPAP

Many problems with facial acne related to CPAP arise because the headgear itself isn’t clean. Or, if the headgear is clean, it’s placed on the skin that isn’t clean. Oils, bacteria, makeup, and dirt become trapped and lead to irritated skin. Always put a clean mask on a clean face.

Don’t over-tighten your headgear

This torques the headgear and cushion so that they don’t “seat” properly on the face, creating greater gaps and leaks. 

You should be able to slide a finger between your mask cushion and your face; masks are designed to use the incoming pressurized air to complete the seal.

Don’t forget to use your CPAP during naps

Sleep apnea happens every time you sleep, even if it’s during the day. Your best practice: always use your machine during every sleep period.

Don’t avoid CPAP if you have a respiratory infection

Using CPAP when you have a head cold or upper respiratory infection will actually help you get over your illness sooner. This is because the warm, moist air will keep your breathing passages open and you’ll get more sleep, which your body needs when you’re sick.

Don’t use anything but distilled water in the humidifier

Tap water and bottled water have chemicals, microorganisms, and minerals that can make you sick or damage your machine. Also, do not put any kind of essential oil or other non-water liquid into your humidifier, as these aren’t safe for inhaling into the lungs.

Don’t use petroleum products inside your mask cushion

Petroleum products are composed of volatile compounds that are dangerous when inhaled into the lungs through the highly pressurized air delivery system of CPAP. Menthol products in a petroleum base are not safe to place in the nostrils or anywhere where they can be inhaled for this reason.

Now Listen Very Carefully Here:

Stop Snoring in 3 Minutes — Starting Tonight

The Stop Snoring and Sleep Apnea Program is a straightforward program that teaches you a series of specific exercises that can eliminate your snoring for good. It’s a comprehensive system that comes with a variety of sleep solutions and 24 exercises.

However, the first step is to determine the type of snorer you are and use the corresponding regime. Don’t worry — the program guides you through the process of identifying the source of your snoring, so you can pick the appropriate regime to follow.

The exercises only take 3 minutes a day to complete and the program provides you with easy step-by-step instructions so you know exactly what to do. To give you an idea of what you can expect from the program as a whole, here’s a more detailed look:

Diagnosing Your Snoring Problem

The first section of the program gives you an abundance of information about all types of snoring and why they happen. This helps you narrow in on the root cause of your snoring. It also covers the various forms of snoring and why they’re happening.

  • Throat Closing Up
  • Tongue Causing Snoring
  • Nasal Problems
  • Jaw Causing Snoring
  • The Soft Palate Being Too Weak or Too Big
  • List of Programs to Choose from

Since the program covers all forms of snoring, it provides you with different treatment plans for you to choose from. You can also choose which regime to follow based on how much time you have. These are the other options available:

  • 3 Minutes a Day
  • 7 Minutes a Day
  • 12 Minutes a Day
  • 18 Minutes a Day
  • 30 Minutes a Day
  • 60 Minutes a Day
  • More than an Hour a Day

Exercises

You also receive a list of all of the exercises that make up the regimes mentioned above. You can create your own routine if you’d like or use this section to learn all of the techniques to see which ones you like best:

  • 3 Jaw Exercises
  • 5 Throat Exercises
  • 3 Tongue Exercises
  • 5 Body Exercises
  • 2 Breathing Exercises
  • 2 Relaxation Exercises
  • 3 Attitude Exercises
  • 1 Communication Exercise

Sleep Positions

The program also provides you with some proper sleep positions that can further help eliminate your snoring.

  • 2 Sleep Positions

Additional Topics

  • The Philosophy Behind the Program
  • What Causes Snoring
  • How the Exercises Work
  • Secondary Exercises
  • Recommendations For Completing The Seven Programs Included

Here is a video that explains it better than I can