It’s true; not all CPAP masks are created equal.  This is why the team at CPAP Central wants you to be fully aware of the pros and cons to each CPAP mask style.

CPAP Nasal Pillows Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Touches less of your face, making it ideal for CPAP users with claustrophobia.
• Doesn’t affect line of sight, making it great for those who watch TV before bed.
• Best for those with glasses as nothing is covering the bridge of the nose.
• Air flows directly into the nasal passage, reducing air leaks.
• Stays in place for active sleepers.
• Works well for those with beards and mustaches.

Cons:

• Doesn’t work well if CPAP user is prescribed with high pressure.
• Sometimes direct pressure causes dryness or even nose bleeds.
• Won’t work for mouth breathers unless accompanied by chin strap.

CPAP Nasal Masks Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Less direct air flow than CPAP Nasal Pillows design
• Works better with high pressure.
• Many designs for different facial features.
• Great for CPAP users who sleep on their side.

Cons:

• If CPAP user is a mouth breather, must be accompanied by chin strap.
• Some complain of irritation at bridge of nose, where CPAP mask must be in contact with.
• Not great for nasal congestion, colds or allergies.
• Won’t work for CPAP users who have difficulty breathing through nose because of health conditions such as deviated septum, narrowed nasal valve, etc.

CPAP Full Face Masks Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Best solution for mouth breathers.
• Best solution for those with nasal congestion.
• Some CPAP users that are claustrophobic prefer CPAP full face mask that covers entire face, only touching outer frame of face.
• Best solution for those prescribed with high pressure.
• Best solution for those who sleep on their back.

Cons:

• Higher change of air leaks.
• Air leaks at top of mask can cause dry eyes.
• Often affects line of sight, which isn’t ideal for those who watch TV or wear glasses before bed.
• Not ideal for stomach sleepers.

Thankfully, CPAP Central carries all kinds of CPAP masks and have CPAP therapy experts waiting to chat with you about which CPAP mask design may be right for you.  Visit CPAP Central today to explore our CPAP masks and order your next mask for the best online price available with free pricing on orders over $99!

Summer is in full swing, which means so are the summer parties like weddings, family reunions, grill outs and backyard gatherings.  And something that often goes hand in hand with summer parties is alcohol consumption.  The reason CPAP Central cares about your alcohol consumption is because it can dramatically affect your sleep apnea treatment.  Let us describe why your “nightcap” may be doing more harm than good when it comes to CPAP usage.

1. As a depressant, alcohol causes the muscles in your airway to relax, making your sleep apnea worse. You might have heard the phrase, “I only snore when I drink” which proves that even those that don’t usually suffer from sleep apnea, may suffer from it after a few drinks.
2. As a sedative, alcohol may help you fall asleep, but you won’t sleep as long as you should or not with the quality of sleep that you otherwise enjoy when you are sober. The reasoning is that alcohol disrupts REM sleep or the second half of the sleep cycle which is associated with memories.  Disturbed REM equals a restless night.
3. As a good rule of thumb, stop drinking four hours before you plan to hit the hay. This will allow your body to process the alcohol and affect your sleep apnea treatment less.
4. Another option is to switch to an Auto CPAP or APAP if you don’t already use one. This type of CPAP machine will adjust the pressure to your breathing and could accommodate the change in breathing resulting from a few alcoholic drinks.

CPAP Central carries a variety of excellent Auto CPAP machines such as the AirCurve 10, the DreamStation and System One REMStar.  We offer FREE SHIPPING on order over $99, live chat with CPAP experts and the best online prices available for all CPAP supplies.

When you look back on your childhood, did it seem like your mother was always tired?  To the mothers out there, do you feel worn out?  As mothers, we often chalk it up to traditional mom-like duties such as running children to their activities, managing all meals of the day for all members of the family or what felt like hours of holding a crying baby in the middle of the night.  But what if we told you that it could be more than a busy lifestyle?

According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), the average women between the ages of 30 and 60 sleep just six hours and forty-one minutes during the work week and are more likely to have difficulty falling asleep.  Some of the disorders that may be causing this include:

Insomnia in Women

A NSF Sleep in America poll revealed that women are 9 percent more likely to report symptoms of insomnia than men.  Common causes found for insomnia in women include menstruation, pregnancy and menopause.  Cures reported were exercise, diet change and improving their sleep environment.

Nocturnal Sleep-Related Eating Disorder in Women

Studies show over 66 percent of individuals that suffer from this uncommon condition where the individual eats food during the night while appearing to be asleep are in fact women.  This disorder has been caused by certain prescription medications or even sleep disorders such as sleep apnea.

Nighttime Pain in Women

Women are 10 percent more likely to suffer from nighttime pain, according to a 1996 NSF Gallup Poll.  Nighttime pain includes migraines, tension headaches, rheumatic or arthritis conditions and heartburn, which are all commonly found in women.  Cures reported were relaxation techniques, medications and cognitive therapy.

Restless Legs Syndrome in Women

Amazingly, 18 percent of American adult females reported suffering from this condition in a 2002 NSF study.  Possible causes reported were iron or foliate deficiencies which are common in women.  Cures reported were iron supplements, medications and lifestyle changes.

So next time you think your late-night eating, restless leg, midnight migraines or trouble falling asleep is caused by your busy family schedule, think again and see your doctor right away.  The team at CPAP Central is here for you if sleep apnea comes back as your diagnoses. Our experts are available via live chat, and we have a wide variety of CPAP machines available!

For both the seasoned and new CPAP machine user, a first time traveling with equipment can be a bit daunting. Fortunately, the pros at CPAP Central here to help! Check out these travel tips to get your holiday plans started off right.

 

Air travel with your CPAP machine

To help protect your CPAP machine, we recommend that you always carry it onto the plane with you. Luckily, as your machine is medical equipment, it can be brought on board without counting towards your carry-on luggage allowance. For the same reason, you are allowed to use your CPAP machine during a long or overnight flight, if you require it. If you think you might need to use your machine in-flight, be sure to complete these steps before your journey:

 

• Contact the airline at least two weeks before your trip to get approval to use your machine in-flight. If the airline provides an approval letter after this process, be sure to carry it with you while traveling.

 

• Check with the airline’s reservation team to ensure that your seat is located near a power outlet, and that you have the type of power adaptor that’s needed for the aircraft. Be aware that in some cases, power outlets (often called EmPower outlets) are only available to those seated in business and first class.

 

• Obtain a note from your physician stating that you require CPAP therapy, and a copy of your machine’s prescription and latest sleep study. Keep these with your airline’s approval letter, and be prepared to show all documents to TSA and aircraft personnel.

 

If your machine has an attached humidifier, remove and dry it before packing your unit for travel. Do not use the humidifier while traveling, as airplane turbulence or fellow passengers can cause bumps to the machine or damage to your device.

 

Consider a travel CPAP machine

Did you know that CPAP machines are also available in small, more convenient sizes for travel? Travel CPAP machines are compact, light, and excellent for use on airplanes or in hotel rooms. And many of them come with built-in humidifiers! We have a great selection here at CPAP Central, and we’d be happy to help you find a travel machine that fits your needs.

 

Plan ahead to make your holiday travel a little easier this year! To learn more about travel size CPAP units and hard travel cases, or if you have any other questions about traveling with your equipment, the experts at CPAP Central are just a click away.

 

 

Sleep deprivation is caused by not getting enough sleep, staying up in the wee hours of the night and continuously being on your technology devices.  A recent study shows that every three in four people in the workforce put in more than 40 hours per week.  It may seem like your “at home” list never ends and you will forfeit your sleep to get things done.  Sleeping in on the weekends may feel comfortable and relaxing, but it will not help you catch up on your overall sleep.

 

The human body is naturally designed to get adequate rest by naturally moving through sleep cycles.  Our bodies take approximately eight hours, or more, to experience this type of deep sleep.  According the National Sleep Foundation, on average, Americans sleep just under seven hours per night.  This statistic results to be 6.8 hours during the week and 7.4 hours during the weekend.  Experts recommend that people get eight hours of sleep per night which means you’re losing one hour of sleep each night.

 

If we don’t get enough sleep at night, sleep deprivation can be very harmful during the time we are awake.  Sleep deprivation can cause the following:

 

• Accidents
• Diabetes
• Heart failure
• High stress
• Forgetfulness
• Reduced mental performance
• Weight gain
• Anxiety
• Wrinkles
• Increased risk of death

 

Even though some people think sleeping in on the weekends can help, the fact is, the lack of sleep will catch up to us.  Immediate effects will happen if you only get four to six hours of sleep every night.  This is a bad habit you do not want to create.

 

Make sure to try a new schedule of getting enough sleep during the whole week, just not on the weekends.  We owe good sleep to our bodies, our brains, and to our families.  See us for all of your CPAP masks, CPAP machines, and comfort accessories to help you enjoy a restful night’s sleep every night. Our experts are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST to answer any questions you may have!

Testosterone is a manly thing; there are no two ways around that. The male counterpart to estrogen for females, testosterone helps males with muscle development, body hair growth and plays a major role in sexual health. Therefore, it may seem odd to think that testosterone levels have anything to do with sleeping or sleep apnea. However, newer research has shown that there is a significant connection between sleep/sleep apnea and testosterone levels in men.

 

Testosterone levels change during sleep, and the highest levels reported in men were found during deep, restorative REM sleep. However, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders interrupt the sleep cycle, preventing testosterone levels from reaching their peak. This is what causes the link between low testosterone and sleep apnea.

 

The restless, incomplete sleep men with sleep apnea get every night not only causes low testosterone, but it also increases chances of developing erectile dysfunction. In a recent study, men with obstructive sleep apnea were about twice as likely to complain to doctors of about low libido, erectile dysfunction and impotence.

 

This means one thing: men, go see your doctor if you think you have sleep apnea. CPAP therapy, which is used to treat sleep apnea, can help improve your physical symptoms, as well as the complications to sexual function. Although you can also get expensive hormone replacement therapy to help with impaired sexual function, CPAP therapy is less expensive and helps with both physical and sexual issues.

 

On top of this, treatment with CPAP also helps prevent the more severe consequences of sleep apnea such as developing heart disease, high blood pressure and strokes. CPAP Central has the equipment to fit your therapy and the staff to help you find what you need. Men (and women), be sure to come by and see how we can assist you in your sleep apnea treatment.

 

 

At CPAPCentral, we get excited about all things related to sleep apnea therapy—and for good reason! We love being able to help people get a good night’s rest and avoid the pitfalls that come with untreated OSA.

However, it’s rare that we’re this excited for a new piece of CPAP equipment. Introducing the all-new AirMini Travel CPAP Machine by ResMed. The smallest and most advanced travel CPAP machine, the AirMini fits in the palm of your hand, offers waterless humidification, and connects to your phone via an app for easy control.

The AirMini weighs only .66 pounds and is 5.4 inches long, 3.3 inches wide and 2.1 high, making it smaller than most mobile phones. It only requires a 20-watt power adapter, which is also what most smart phones use as well.

Because it is so small, the AirMini doesn’t have room on it for settings. That’s why you connect it via BlueTooth to your smart phone and use the AirMini app to control it. The app is currently available for both iOS and Android.

We know that you don’t always have access to distilled water during travel. In fact, sometimes using liquid in your CPAP machine can be downright hazardous. If you’re using it on a plane and experience turbulence, it can lead to spills. If you forget to empty it before packing your bag, it can lead to a big, wet mess.

The HumidX™ and HumidX™ Plus waterless humidifiers, which are exclusive to the AirMini, make it so you don’t have to worry about that anymore. They snap onto the end of the hose and capture the heat and moisture from exhaled air and uses it to humidify therapy air.

With summer well under way, you may very well be planning your next vacation. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to a travel CPAP machine, we highly recommend this device!

It’s that time of year—when you pack your bags, hire a house sitter and head out the door for a week of adventure!

If you haven’t decided on where you want to go for your next vacation, CPAP Central has compiled the top five destinations in the United States for 2018, courtesy of Trip Advisor:

1. New York

From American icons such as the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building to artistic endeavors such as Broadway and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Big Apple truly has it all!

2. Las Vegas, Nevada

While it’s better known for gambling, there’s so much more to do here than just that! Whether you take in a show, enjoy gourmet buffets or pose with an Elvis on the strip, there’s plenty to do in this desert town.

3. Orlando, Florida

What can we say? The city of theme parks certainly has its share of distractions. And when you get tired of roller coasters, there’s beaches, spas and gardens where you can go to relax.

4. Chicago, Illinois

Whether you want to take in the famous comedy of Second State or explore a little history at the Field Museum, the Windy City has a wide variety of cultural experiences you can take in!

5. San Diego, California

This hub of the tech industry has its fair share of fun! Whether you stroll the ocean, catch a free Sunday concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion or enjoy nighttime entertainment in the Gaslamp Quarter, there is always plenty to do!

No matter where you decide to jet off to this summer, we want to remind you to not leave your CPAP supplies behind. Many of those with sleep apnea tend to forgo their therapy while they’re on vacation, since it can be difficult to lug everything along.

Luckily, CPAP Central is here with a solution to that problem: the Dreamstation Go travel CPAP.

The Dreamstation Go is sort of like the little brother of the popular Dreamstation CPAP. Featuring a built-in power supply and an optional battery, this CPAP machine is truly portable enough to use on even long-term flights! It uses Bluetooth to track and monitor your results, and the DreamMapper App to track progress.

If you’re ready to upgrade to a travel CPAP, we have all the information you need on this versatile little machine. Our experts are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST to answer any questions you may have!

 

When we think of Memorial Day, we often think of an extended weekend, grilling out and catching a Memorial Day Parade, but there are many other ways to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  This weekend, CPAP Central is encouraging everyone to go out and make this Memorial Day the day we take the opportunity to dive deeper into acts of gratitude for our military.

Here are 4 ways you can get more involved this Memorial Day:

1. Have you ever considered writing a thank you letter to someone in the military? A Million Thanks makes sending a letter to a man or woman in the military extremely easy so get the kids together and make a memorable card for those serving our country!
2. Have you found a military-connected cause to be passionate about? We found a couple that may hold a special place for your or someone you love:
   1. United Through Reading – Fund a program that creates DVDs of service member reading bedtime story to children that children can then enjoy while parent is deployed.
   2. Operation Shower – Fund a program that throws baby showers for expecting moms whose husbands are deployed.
3. Have you visited one of the VA’s National Cemeteries? There are currently 131 national cemeteries in 40 states and 33 soldier’s lots and monument sites.  Think about starting up a tradition of placing flags or flowers on soldiers’ graves for Memorial Day.
4. Have you considered volunteering in your community? A great way to honor those who have served our country is by serving our own community.

Of course, we would still recommend attending your local Memorial Day celebration, but hopefully one of these four opportunities sparked your interest.  Most importantly, everyone at CPAP Central wishes you a very happy and safe Memorial Day!

 

There are many times when we try to ignore problems. The hope is that if we don’t do anything, the issue will go away on its own. This is not a wise approach to take when it comes to sleep apnea. Letting sleep apnea go untreated leads to several dangerous health side effects, and CPAP Central wants to make sure you’re aware of them.

 

Surgery Complications: If you’re having any kind of major surgery that will require you to go under general anesthesia. If you don’t tell your doctor about the symptoms that could be related to sleep apnea, surgery turns into a dangerous situation. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, being sedated and lying on your back can worsen your condition. If you’re having surgery, you should tell your doctor about your symptoms.

 

Daytime Drowsiness: Letting sleep apnea go untreated means you’re not getting the best quality sleep that you can.  If you’re sleeping is disrupted at night, you’re also going to be impacted during the day too. Sleep apnea will make you drowsy and will impact your concentration. If you want to improve your focus and have more energy, you should tell your doctor about your symptoms.

 

Heart Complications: In some cases, ignoring sleep apnea can have fatal consequences. Studies have shown a link between sleep apnea and hypertension, also known as high blood pressure.  Undiagnosed sleep apnea can aggravate an existing heart condition because you’re losing oxygen during your sleep, which could lead to an unexpected death.

 

If you’re experiencing symptoms like snoring, feeling tired during the day and waking up suddenly while feeling short of breath, you may have sleep apnea. If you ignore these symptoms, the side effects are dangerous, and sometimes fatal. CPAP Central is here to help you if you are diagnosed with sleep apnea.  Contact us so we can help find the CPAP machines and CPAP masks to help you sleep easier at night.