Monthly Archives: June 2015

Summer Humidity and Sleep Apnea

During the summer, you can turn down the humidifier on your CPAP machine.

It’s finally summer! One of the reasons we love summer so much is the temperatures get warmer, even during the night. With warm nights, many look forward to activities such as barbeques, outdoor concerts, and walks under the stars. CPAP users can add a better night sleep to this list because warmer weather also brings some welcome relief for CPAP users looking to benefit from more moisture in the air.

Humidity is often valuable for CPAP users, especially during the drier months of the winter. When the air is dry, it stays dry as it passes through your CPAP machine, a discomfort many CPAP users overcome with the use of humidifiers. In the summer, the warm air often provides plenty of the moisture that CPAP users so appreciate. CPAPCentral.com wants you to know what the warmer weather means for your sleep apnea therapy.

Generally speaking, warmer weather with more humidity means you can turn down the humidifiers attached to your CPAP machine. The extra moisture in the air is passed through your machine and into your airway, and is much easier to deal with than the colder, drier air that most users have to deal with during the winter months. There are instances, however, where you need to keep your humidifier turned up regardless of the season.

For CPAP users living in a very dry region, like the desert, it doesn’t really matter what time of year it is, because the air is dry year-round. Keep your humidifier turned up if you live in an area like this so the dry air doesn’t disrupt your therapy.
There are still times during the summer when the nights are colder. During those nights, especially if the temperature inside is warmer than the temperature outside, you’re going to want to make sure your humidifier is running at a higher level.

If you’re not using a humidifier with your CPAP machine right now, that may be a choice you want to reconsider. Humidifiers not only help you sleep more comfortably, but also keep you healthy. If you want to know more about how a humidifier can help your CPAP therapy, please contact us.

Summer Allergies and Sleep Apnea

Summer allergies can lead to a number of symptoms, including making sleep apnea worse.

Summer means a lot of different things for everyone. From sunny days, later nights, grilling or camping out, and so much more, there is a lot to love about summer. One of the drawbacks to summer however, is the increase in allergens, which leads to summer allergies. With ragweed and pollen in the air, summer allergies can reduce your ability to breathe effectively.

If you have sleep apnea, it’s important to know how you are affected by summer allergies so that you’re ready to make adjustments to your CPAP therapy. CPAPCentral.com offers you these tips to help you understand how summer allergies impact you and how you can continue your therapy effectively.

Impact on Symptoms

Obstructive sleep apnea has been linked to allergies, and studies have shown symptoms like snoring and difficulty breathing while sleeping are made worse by summer allergies. Additionally, these allergies can cause runny noses, watery eyes, and sore throats, making you feel uncomfortable and making it difficult for you to sleep. This leads to an increased feeling of daytime drowsiness and fatigue. Summer allergy symptoms combined with a potential worsening of your sleep apnea can take a serious toll on your health.

How to Help Yourself

Many symptoms related to summer allergies can be treated with over-the-counter medications. These alleviate symptoms and can help you sleep. To prevent allergen-loaded air from passing through your CPAP machine every night, remember to clean your CPAP machine every day. Make sure your air filters are changed regularly and that you wipe your machine with a damp cloth, and wash your humidifier chamber, mask, and tubing every day. Products like cleaning wipes, tube cleanings systems, and the SoClean 2 CPAP Cleaner and Sanitizer are a great way to start a daily routine of keeping your CPAP supplies clean.

You can also make sure your CPAP therapy is as effective as possible by making sure your equipment is up-to-date. CPAPCentral.com has all the CPAP machines, CPAP masks, and other CPAP supplies to make sure you’re able to sleep comfortably.

CPAP Masks and Facial Hair

There are steps you can take to make sure you have the right CPAP mask to go with your facial hair.

There are a lot of different kinds of CPAP masks out there. Some cover your whole face, while others leave your mouth uncovered and cover just your nose. The key with any CPAP mask, though, is to create an effective seal so that your CPAP therapy is as effective as it can be.

For men, however, another consideration must be taken into account. Men with facial hair have to be more selective about their CPAP masks. In observance of June as Men’s Health Month, CPAPCentral.com is proud to offer tips on finding the right mask to fit with your beard, mustache, goatee, or any other kind of facial hair, as well as tips for managing your facial hair to work with your current mask.

How Facial Hair Impacts Your CPAP Therapy

The biggest impact your facial hair has on your CPAP therapy is reducing the effectiveness of the seal for your CPAP mask. Facial hair creates a barrier between your mask and your skin, which leads to increased instances of mask leaks. This results in your CPAP therapy being less effective and your sleep apnea not being treated as effectively.

How to Improve Your CPAP Therapy

There are steps you can take to improve your CPAP therapy. First, consider shaving or trimming your facial hair. Completely shaving will be most effective in improving your current mask seal, but trimming down the thickness of your beard or mustache can help.

If you do need to switch masks, nasal pillow CPAP masks will likely bring the best luck because they insert right into your nostrils and have minimal contact with the face. The following nasal pillow masks have been effective for men with facial hair:

If you prefer a different style of mask, don’t worry, there are some other options that may also work well with facial hair. Nasal CPAP masks cover only your nose. Men with facial hair tend to prefer the following nasal masks:

Some men have even found that full face CPAP masks, which cover a larger area of your face including your mouth and nose, provide a comfortable and effective seal, even with facial hair. Full face masks that men with facial hair recommend are:

We hope that you find these tips helpful and that you are able to find the right CPAP mask to go with your facial hair. Nothing makes you look and feel better than being fully rested, and here at CPAPCentral.com it is our goal to help you achieve a good night sleep, no matter what your CPAP needs may be. If you have questions about any of these masks, or anything else related to your CPAP therapy, please contact us or visit our website to live chat with our experts.