A healthy mind and a healthy body are two of the most beautiful things to have in life. They are also one of the most difficult things to maintain in life. Sleep is one that accounts for both of them; a healthy body requires rest, and so makes a healthy mind. Sleep is not as simple a concept as it appears to be. One such sleep disorder is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is also called as Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA. It is a disorder where there are problems breathing during sleep. Interruptions in breathing during sleep mean the oxygen level in the brain and body are not regular, and hence, there can be fatal consequences.

The continuous positive airway pressure or the CPAP is a therapy which is conducted by the use of a machine that is attached to the person with the disorder. The treatment involves the use of a mild air CPAP pressure that maintains the breathing airway passage of the person with the disease to be kept open. The air pressure in the throat of the person is increased not to let the air collapse.

Know about the procedure

The CPAP machine is made of a mask or a device that is fit over the person’s nose or both nose and mouth, either can be chosen or given, a strap that is used to position the mask, a motor that is used for blowing air into a tube, the tube is used in connecting the mask to the motor of the machine. The same mechanism may be employed for the premature babies suffering from this condition due to their underdeveloped lungs.

The CPAP therapy allows a person with sleep apnea to breathe better and more efficiently. The CPAP machine’s air pressure is set by the doctor according to each person’s requirement and needs to be used for every sleep. The machine, like any new therapy or treatment, can be a slightly discomforting in the beginning and requires patience on the part of the person with the sleep-breathing problems. Gradually, the person will get adapted to it. Another important part is choosing the mask with the right fitting with the person as it will affect the person’s treatment.

CPAP therapy requires the mask and the essential CPAP supplies that ought to be purchased and handled with care. A CPAP humidifier is also often recommended for people. The humidifier heats up warm water that is placed in the humidifier chamber and produces moisture. This moisture is carried by air for the person to breathe. Like the air pressure is set to a specific requirement, the humidifier’s heat level also is adjustable according to more or fewer moisture needs. The employment of the heated humidifier has observed many positive reviews as patients using them have reported higher rates of the treatment being responsive and efficient. The humidifier is hence, used because the air in the CPAP masks is mostly dry and this can cause swelling and discomfort. Sometimes, specific CPAP machines come with built-in humidifiers, and these cannot be removed or separated.

Features and benefits of CPAP supplies

A feature of the CPAP supplies includes the hose or the tubing. These hoses or tubing have a universal port and can thus, fit into all machines and masks effortlessly. Generally, they come with the life-expectancy of one year, when they are well-maintained. There are also hose covers available which insulate it and make it more comfortable. The most commonly used and cost-effective manner for hose cover is using an insulating fabric to wrap around the hose. A heating tube is a small heating element that can be placed in the tubing of the CPAP machine and supplies, and this is done to keep the air at a constantly maintained temperature. The purpose served through this is that it prevents condensation in the tubing, and is also called as rain-out. There are only two manufacturers of CPAP machines and suppliers who have this feature; they are ResMed and Fisher & Paykel. Another essential feature of the CPAP machines and supplies is the voltage selection. There are devices that can switch from the standard US voltages to the international ones and these switches can sometimes be done manually by a person or can be done automatically.

The mentioned CPAP machines and the supplies need a thorough care-taking because they serve an essential purpose. They should be kept at a cold temperature and cleaned for dust and other contaminants.