The Different Components Of CPAP Machines

If you often feel tired in the morning, or you feel sleepy during the day yet you slept through the night, then it might be time to have yourself checked by a doctor. This is because there are certain conditions which may cause you not to sleep well. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that interferes with the quality of your sleep. There are various ways in which the condition can be managed and one of the solutions is the use of CPAP machines.

What Are CPAP Machines?

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are used to enable a person that has obstructive sleep apnea to sleep better. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition whereby your airway gets blocked when you are sleeping. This blockage is caused when the muscles of the throat relax, making the tissues of the throat and the tongue to block the airway. This causes you to take in shallow breaths or you may be unable to breathe for a few seconds.

The lack of air reduces the flow of blood to the brain. This causes your brain to awaken and signal the muscles responsible for breathing to function. You will normally take in a deep breath which is followed by a grunting noise. Your brain will then go back to sleep and will awaken again when the obstruction occurs once more. This process greatly affects your sleep and you may not be aware of it.

Components Of A CPAP Machine

CPAP machines generally consist of a motor, a hose and a mask. The motor sucks in air from the room and pressurizes it enough to ensure that your airway does not collapse. There are machines which have a humidifier, which is made up of a water tank that heats up the water so that you can breathe in air that has moisture. This ensures that you do not suffer from a dry throat when using the machine. A hose is used to move the air that has been pressurized from the motor to the mask.

Most machines which have a humidifier are made with hoses that can be heated. The heating is important in order to avoid condensation due to the moist air that passes through the hose. The diameter of the hose normally depends on the type of machine that you will use. There are mainly three different types of masks which are used with CPAP machines. You can use a mask which covers the nose only, one which covers the nose and the mouth or you can use nasal prongs which are fitted into the nose.

Increasing Effectiveness Of CPAP Machines

There are different types of CPAP machines and it is important to identify the machine that will be most effective for you. You can decide to hire a machine to check whether it is suitable for you and then you can later buy it or buy a similar one. In case you experience a congested and runny nose after using the machine, your doctor can recommend medicines which you can spray directly into the nose to relieve the congestion. You should always make sure that your mask fits properly so that the air does not leak. Using the machine daily will get rid of the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.