Best-selling machines are back! Click to Shop

Pros and Cons of CPAP Therapy

Adhering to CPAP therapy can be challenging at first, but once a patient has the hang of it, the benefits are not only very obvious, but long lasting with continued therapy. As with any other important decision making process, it helps to have a list of pros and cons and what to expect when you start CPAP Therapy. So what is it that patients tend to dislike (and like) so much about CPAP therapy?

There are several challenges facing CPAP patients, most common of all are getting used to the CPAP equipment.  It is not uncommon for patients to pull the CPAP mask off their face during sleep. People do not always have the best possible mask to start with. One way to combat this is to make sure the clinician you see at the CPAP set up appointment and mask fitting has many choices for you to try. The more masks you try, the more likely you are to find one you should use.

Another hurdle for CPAP patients is dry nose and throat. This can be remedied by using a humidifier with the CPAP machine to send moist air into the mask. This helps fight off that dryness and helps prevent allergies from becoming the reason you skip using your CPAP some nights.  As well, if the CPAP has a high setting, you may need a larger humidifier chamber. This chamber will hold more water to help you get through the night without running out.

Lastly, so many patients feel as though they are stifling or suffocating when using a CPAP. This can be remedied by either having a pressure change done or even by switching to a Bi-level PAP machine.  The Bi-level PAP machine emits two air pressures, one upon inhaling, and a lesser pressure upon exhaling. This commonly relieves that stifling feeling.

Possibly most important of all is the list of pros you will want to weigh in when considering whether or not to continue with CPAP therapy, and there are so many. First of all, when you get enough oxygen while you sleep you are actually benefitting every part of you, even down to the cellular level. Your body has the ability to heal and regenerate, high blood pressure is lowered, there is a reduced risk of diabetes and stroke, pain management is improved, concentration is improved, you are more likely to make healthy food choices and have the energy to exercise, and life expectancy is increased.

Though CPAP therapy can be a challenge to become accustomed to and it has its challenges, please don’t forget the enormous good you do yourself by sticking with it. Head over to CPAPSupplies.com, and let us help you pick the best CPAP equipment for you!

Share: