CPAP therapy is often recommended to a patient who’s diagnosed with sleep apnea for the first time, this view is endorsed by the American Sleep Apnea Association. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Air Pressure and is regarded as one of the most effective treatment approaches for mild to moderate sleep apnea.

What is CPAP Therapy?

The purpose of this therapy is mainly to keep the airway open for the patient to breathe as normally as possible during sleep. The CPAP machines delivers a stream of compressed air via a hose to a nasal pillow, nose mask, full-face mask, or hybrid, splinting the airway (keeping it open under air pressure) so that unobstructed breathing becomes possible, therefore reducing and/or preventing apneas and hypopnea.

The CPAP therapy consists of a set of CPAP equipment, the individual components of which are:

• The pressurized air generating device which is usually known as the CPAP machine.

• CPAP masks, in the form of CPAP Nasal Pillows, CPAP Nose Masks or Full Face CPAP Masks, acting as conduits for carrying the pressurized air from the device to the lungs.

• Hoses that transport the air.

What does a CPAP mask do?

The CPAP mask is probably the most important item in the entire set of CPAP equipment though each component has its own role in the whole procedure of the therapy. The reason being that delivering the required amount of pressurized air is essential to the success of the treatment. Any air leakage can completely disrupt the process which is why a good quality mask must have an effective seal, and be held on very securely.

What type of CPAP mask should you choose?

Some patients may find wearing a CPAP Mask uncomfortable so it is also very important that the user is completely at ease wearing the mask, otherwise he or she may experience discontinuation of therapy. Choosing the right type of CPAP mask becomes utterly important. For example, eyeglass wearers and bearded men may prefer the nasal-pillow type of mask while the full-face mask could be the ideal choice for mouth breathers. The Sleep Apnea Mask should also be worn according to the way the user sleeps – on the back or on the sides.

The other aspect to consider is the material. The majority of the CPAP masks in the market is made of silicone or soft plastic which allows maximum comfort to the user. It is usually triangular in shape to fit the contours of the patient’s face. The material is suggested to be autoclavable and easy to clean in order to eliminate the risk of bacterial infection. When it comes to replacement times for your CPAP mask, the recommended time frames are no longer than a year for full replacement while replacement of the headgear should come at the six-month mark and cushion replacement every three to five months.

We hope that this article can be useful and comprehensive enough about the most common therapy options for managing sleep apnea and it can guide you to choose the Best CPAP Mask. If you have any further question please feel free to email us at info@firstcaresolutions.com.