Patients also need long-term follow up with an annual office visit to check equipment, titrate settings as needed, and to ensure ongoing mask and interface fit. Continuing patient education on the importance of regular use and support groups help patients obtain the maximum benefit of this therapy.

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Although adjusting to CPAP therapy can come with its challenges, many side effects of CPAP can be prevented or resolved by working with a health professional.

It may take a few months, but the good news is that when your CPAP treatment does start working for you, you will feel less tired and better than you have in awhile.

A CPAP machine also includes straps to position the mask, a hose or tube that connects the mask to the machine’s motor, a motor that blows air into the tube, and an air filter to purify the air entering the nose.

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Treatment should be based on individual circumstance and should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

Auto-titrating CPAP machines use computer algorithms and pressure transducer sensors to determine the ideal pressure to eliminate apneic events.

There may arise rare instances of respiratory distress where a hospitalized patient would here greatly benefit from CPAP but does not tolerate the mask or is not complaint due to delirium, agitation or factors such as very young age in children or the elderly. In such scenarios, mild sedation with low dose fentanyl or dexmedetomidine can be used to improve compliance, until the therapy is no longer indicated.

You are also able to pause the device if needed and turn it off in the morning. The battery pack is designed to last 7-10 years, much like a pacemaker.

Some issues—including mask leaks, incorrect air pressure, and mask discomfort—can have relatively simple solutions. Open communication with your physician could be the difference between feeling better sooner rather than later.

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Weight loss surgery isn’t for everyone, but it can be an effective solution. The American Thoracic Society recommends gastric bypass surgery in people with a body mass index (BMI)ⓘ Body mass index (BMI) measures body fat based on height and weight. of 35 or higher to improve OSA. A recent study showed bariatric surgery, which is a procedure removing the portion of your stomach producing the hormone ghrelin—which signals hunger to your brain—improved OSA and caused remission in 65% of patients. [10]Oweidat K, et al. Sleep and Breathing. May 5, 2023.

Make sure you have your machine checked regularly by an expert from the company that makes the device.