Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which an individual may find difficulty breathing during sleep. Age and obesity are the potential risk factor for sleep apnea. The symptoms may include snoring loudly in sleep or feeling tired despite sleeping the whole night.
According to the NCBI report, 3% to 7% of men and 2% to 5% of women experience sleep apnea in the US. The best way to avoid such conditions is continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP). Let’s understand this therapy in detail.
What is CPAP?
Continuous positive airway pressure is a treatment method for sleep apnea patients. The air passage collapses in the mouth, which leads to difficulty in breathing. CPAP provides air at a pressure that can avoid air passage collapse so that the patient doesn’t face difficulty in breathing.
CPAP is one of the effective solutions to sleep apnea, but sometimes, people may not find relief. One of the reasons for treatment could be not using the right CPAP mask. Although you can go for another treatment, before you do that, avoid the below-mentioned mistakes.
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A wrong size mask
This is a common mistake. People often choose the wrong mask and later find air escaping from it. Everybody has a different face type; not every mask can work for everyone.
You can choose a CPAP mask with the help of your healthcare provider. They can give you an idea of how to choose a CPAP mask.
Solution
A variety of face masks are available on several website stores. For instance, some best-rated full-face CPAP masks cover the mouth and nose, thus leaving no scope for air escape.
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Claustrophobic
Some people feel claustrophobic after wearing a full face mask. The full face mask covers your mouth and nose. However, some people find it difficult to breathe in a full face mask. If you feel so, try to connect with your doctor or get a different size mask.
Solution
You can try some relaxation exercises, such as progressive muscle relaxation, which can help reduce anxiety related to CPAP.
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Skin irritation and pressure sores
Sometimes CPAP masks can cause skin irritation. If you set the mask too high on the bridge of your nose, it can cause discomfort. And when the mask is loose, at the nose side, the air may find its way to your eyes, making them dry.
Solution
If you are developing skin sores and irritation, try the most popular CPAP nasal mask. A nasal mask covers your nose area to supply your nose with air. Therefore, if you face a problem with a full mask that covers the mouth and nose, try a nasal mask.