Sleep apnea is one of the worst types of sleep disorders for more than one reason: the symptoms are not only debilitating in the short term but can gradually pave the way to several heart ailments many of which are fatal. Secondly, sleep apnea can remain undiagnosed and untreated for a long time since the symptoms typically show up when the victim is asleep.

Running out of breath and gasping for air during sleep is perhaps most unnerving and life-threatening symptom of sleep apnea. Typically, an apnea patient may cease to breathe 5 to 30 times in an hour and several times during the night. It is no wonder that the primary aim of doctors treating such patients is to provide air supplementation to keep the air passage open during sleep and prevent such breathing pauses. To achieve this goal, use of CPAP machines, or devices providing Continuous Positive Air Pressure has been in use since the ‘80s.

Also called the sleep apnea machine, the CPAP machines and related accessories like the CPAP mask, etc have undergone enormous innovations in terms of design, style and overall functionality. Today, the use of CPAP equipment is considered to be one of the most effective methods of treating sleep apnea symptoms. But are CPAP machines for everyone?

Unfortunately, the efficacy of the therapy is not appreciated by a large section of apnea patients who find side effects of CPAP machines intolerable and hence discontinue therapy. Patient non-compliance with CPAP machines is the number one reason for therapy discontinuation. But are the CPAP machine side effects really as insufferable as they are reported to be? Considering its efficacy, can such side effects be resolved at all?

Welcome to www.CpapSideEffects.com a site dedicated to address such issues for all of you who are at crossroads – whether to go for CPAP equipment as the doctor recommends or would the sleep apnea machine side effects soon turn out to be great dissuaders preventing you from continuing with the therapy? If your apnea condition demands the use of CPAP equipment chances are that you are sitting on horns of dilemma as to which way to turn.

The easy-to-comprehend and unbiased information provided in the subsequent pages of this site could make you an informed user of CPAP machines enabling you to better understand what to expect from the therapy and how to counteract the various expected side effects of CPAP machines.

What is sleep apnea?

While most of us get concerned with the unexplainable discomfort the condition creates, we often forget that it all begins rather innocuously. Snoring problems, when left untreated worsens into sleep apnea. Obesity, habit of consuming excessive alcohol, nasal blockages, etc precipitate the situation further.

Three types of sleep apnea exist, of which obstructive sleep apnea is most common, happening when there is a complete collapse and blockage of the upper respiratory tract.

But what causes sleep apnea? Is neglected snoring the only cause or are there other reasons why an individual can get affected by the condition? Interestingly, while a majority of sleep apnea causes match those that cause snoring, there could be several underlying medical conditions that could also result in sleep apnea. Additionally, use of certain types of medicines could also result in apnea symptoms.

Talking about sleep apnea symptoms, while most of them get noticed by the person sharing the same room or bed, there are some symptoms which ultimately bring the patient to the doctors’ chamber seeking therapy. What are they? It makes sense to know them to educate yourself further in getting timely diagnosis of the condition.

The sleep apnea test, also called the sleep study is perhaps the most important tool that initiates the treatment process. This is because treatment methodology is solely dependent on the severity of the condition as revealed during the sleep study.

Read more about these topics in: What is sleep apnea?

CPAP machines: their role in sleep apnea treatment

The primary function of the CPAP machine, also known as the sleep apnea machine is to supply uninterrupted, pre-measured pressurized air to the lungs of the apnea patient during sleep, to keep the air passage open and prevent the apnea episodes.

The CPAP equipment, in its entirety consists of the machine that generates the air, the CPAP mask using which the patient breathes in the air and the tubing, which is the conduit carrying the air to the air way, via the mask. When you hear about CPAP machine side effects, they could be related to any of the components that make the equipment.

The amount of pressurized air generated by the machine is patient-specific and pre-decided by the physician treating the condition. The quantum is arrived at after studying the severity of the condition. Most patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea require between 6 and 14 cm/H2O air pressure.

There are several variants of the CPAP machines to cater to different types of patient needs. The other two types are BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) and APAP (automatic positive airway pressure) machines.

Read more about these machines in: CPAP machines

CPAP side effects: many problems are solvable

Though CPAP therapy has proved its efficacy over the years, not enough education regarding the side effects of CPAP machines and their management has percolated down to a large segment of users. This adds to patient non-compliance. In fact sleep apnea machine side effects happen to be the only reasons why people seek alternate CPAP therapy.

But what kind of side effects of CPAP machines are we talking about? Perhaps many of these adverse reactions could be nipped in the bud, if the first-time user is informed and made aware of the possibilities that lay ahead. Knowing what to expect and how to counteract problems before they happen, can increase compliance to a large extent – handling CPAP side effects also follow the same pattern.

Claustrophobia, nose irritation, too tight or too loose mask fitting, disturbed sleep, tube getting in the way, skin irritation are some of the oft-reported CPAP side effects that push the user to cease therapy. As you would notice in the subsequent pages, many of these problems have nothing to do with the machine, but are a matter of individual tolerability. Most of the CPAP machine side effects can be removed by making minor adjustments to the tubing or fitting of the mask.

Considering the fact that there are several types of CPAP equipment available, chances are that there is something for everyone in the total package. You might have to spend a little time looking for and trying out the CPAP equipment that suits you best.

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