Sleep apnea is a sleeping problem characterized by the fact that a person’s breathing pauses for a number of times during one night. Continuous positive airway pressure, also abbreviated as CPAP, is one of the most useful remedies relieve obstructive sleep apnea. This device is used assist in maintaining an open airway by supplying an unceasing positive pressure of air. Nevertheless, adjusting the pressures on your CPAP device is very important for effective and sufficient treatments at night. So, let’s take a deeper look at the mechanics of titrating and fine-tuning your CPAP machine pressure settings for even better night’s sleep and therapy experience.
Understanding CPAP Pressure Settings
CPAP machines blow air at a specific pressure to maintain your air passage open during sleep. It is expressed in centimetres of water (cm H2O) and usually uncovers pressure varying from 4 to 20 cm H2O. The right pressure varies from one user to the other because it is defined by a person’s level of sleep apnea and personal requirements.
Although the device is set under your sleep specialist or doctor after a polysomnography, you may require further settings changes as your condition or comfort changes over time. That is why your pressure should not be too low even for an adult you may still have apnea episodes. On the other hand, high pressure is being experienced as uncomfortable, causes dry mouth or even bloating.
Maximising Your CPAP Pressure Settings
Stay with Its Prescriber Settings First
Your doctor will decide on the first CPAP pressure based on the outcome of the test you had while asleep. They will definitely come up during the course of your therapy and since they have been calculated to suit your needs, it’s good to begin with them. If you are having discomfort or feel that there is not enough pressure do not try to self-adjust it instead confer with your doctor.
Auto CPAP Machines: A Flexible Option
There is another type of sleep apnea equipment known as auto-adjusting continuous positive airway pressure machines (APAP). These devices keep track of the pattern of your breathing and adjust the pressure up or down. This is especially beneficial to those clients who experience changes in their needs at some point in the night, or they prefer fluctuating pressures at night.
If you are on a normal CPAP device, but have a problem with stability of pressure, you might discuss with your physician if an APAP device might work better for you.
Monitor Your Therapy Progress
Most of the current type of CPAP machines have built-in data monitoring systems where you can track how effective your therapy is. Some of the parameters that you can monitor include the number of apnea episodes, mask leaks and the quality of sleep. Some machines also are compatible with smartphone apps, allowing you to share your data with your doctor.
Democratic regions can review this data at a regular basis and understand some trends or problems that could influence on the decision-making process of changing pressure settings.
Symptoms That You Need to Adjust Your CPAP Pressure
If you got set up properly at the start, you might find that your steady therapy isn’t as effective or painless as it was when you first started. Here are some signs that your CPAP pressure might need to be adjusted:
- Persistently tired or sleepy during day time.
- Frequent mask leaks.
- Able to describe their inability to breathe out against high pressure.
- Dry mouth or nasal passages.
- Fullness or gas in the morning.
If you have any one of the following symptoms consulting your doctor may involve some pressure adjustments.
Visit Your Physician Now And Then
In essence, adjusting pressures of CPAP machines is not a one-time thing. It also means that, you should visit your sleep specialist or doctor often. They might suggest repeating an overnight sleep study in order to decide if a change in your prescribed settings is needed.
Final Thoughts
Patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea require this valuable sleep apnea equipment known as CPAP machines. However, the right pressure parameters are critical in making sure that treatment is both efficient and bearable. The good news is that with the help of tracking features and your healthcare provider’s help, you can adjust compression on the CPAP machine used at night and improve the quality of your sleep in subsequent days.
Although you need to know how to make the right pressure adjustments, CPAP therapy can give you a good night’s sleep without the symptoms of sleep apnea that can make you tired throughout the day.
