CPAP is one of the most effective medical equipment that can treat sleep apnea. There are hardly any problem with the machine, but some people can be confused about the air pressure. Let me help with that.
So, what are CPAP air pressure range? Usually, most CPAP air pressure ranges between 4 (lowest) and 30 cm H2O (highest). CM H2O refers to centimeters of water pressure.
Most patients only need an air pressure of 6 cm up to 14 cm of water pressure. Anything higher can be too much for their body to tolerate.
Only a medical expert should be allowed to adjust the air pressure settings to avoid complications.
There are special CPAP machines that produces an air pressure of 25 cm up to 30 cm of water pressure, but again, not many people need air pressure that high and not many can tolerate it as well.
Setting the air pressure too high or too low can create health complications or machine complications as well.
It is important to know the right air pressure the patient needs in order to make the machine work the way it should.
People with sleep apnea find out the pressure their body needs by consulting their doctor and allowing a sleep study.
Even if you already have a CPAP machine with the right air pressure, there’s no guarantee that your body will remain at the same air pressure that it needs.
Some people can have an irregular breathing pattern which is why there are now newer and advanced CPAP machines that can possibly read the user’s breathing pattern and adjust the pressure automatically.
If your CPAP machine no longer works, it’s possible that the air pressure might be too low or too high. If you are allowed to adjust it, adjusting it only for a small difference should be done.
Don’t experiment on your own, otherwise, you are placing your own health at risk.
But how can you find out the right air pressure that you need? And why should you stick to it? As you read on, you will learn more about CPAP air pressure settings and why you should be careful with it.
What air pressure should your CPAP be
Once again, most people with obstructive sleep apnea and other types of sleep apnea only need an air pressure of 6 cm up to 14 cm water pressure. Only other people might need higher air pressure.
For example, people that are overweight might need higher air pressure since breathing will be more difficult for them during sleep. Their muscles might also need more support and thus, need higher pressure.
Depending on your CPAP machine, the highest air pressure available will be different.
Before you receive your CPAP machine, they are usually “custom made” or made different depending on every individual’s needs.
Your doctor and the manufacturing company will find the right CPAP machine for your condition to provide better relief.
The higher the air pressure, the tougher mask you should use.
By consulting your doctor, you should also receive the right mask that fits the air pressure your CPAP machine provides. This is why it is important to see a doctor first before getting a CPAP machine.
After all, it is not legal to buy or sell a CPAP machine without a doctor’s prescription.
You can find out the right amount of air pressure for yourself by doing a sleep study, or polysomnography in other words.
It can be done at your home or at a sleep center. You may read our article, “How to do a Sleep Study” to learn more.
Why you should maintain your CPAP air pressure
You might be wondering about the risks or what might happen if your air pressure is wrong. If your air pressure is too high or too low… there are a few different possibilities. Check this list to find your answers.
- Here are a few reasons why you should not adjust air pressure settings without professional guidance:
- Drying your skin
- High air pressure can dry your skin when there are leaks
- Irritating the lungs
- Your lungs may not be able to tolerate the high air pressure and cause irritation
- Infecting your lungs
- High air pressure can infect your lungs especially if you smoke
- Drying up your mouth
- When there are leaks, it can also dry your mouth which can lead to infection
- Cause mask leaks
- Some masks can only tolerate low or average air pressure. Too much air pressure can lead to leads, causing the machine to become ineffective.
- Worsen your condition
- Rather than treating your condition, it can end up turning worse because of incorrect air pressure.
- Unwanted air swallowing
- There are patients that end up “swallowing” the air they receive from the machine because the pressure is too high, it is not “in sync” with their breathing.
- Can cause skin irritation
- For some cases, it can also trigger allergic reactions when there are leaks.
- May not work at all
- It may not do anything negative, but it may also not do anything positive at all.
- Can cause swollen lips
- Once again, if there are leaks from the mask, it can possibly cause your lips or skin to swell.
- Drying your skin
Although the risk isn’t that dangerous, it is still important to avoid the risks instead of putting your health in danger.
How to do a sleep study and get the air pressure you need
All you have to do is to schedule an appointment as you visit your doctor and ask about a sleep study to get the air pressure you need for your CPAP.
You will be asked several questions at first like an initial interview to see if you really do need the sleep study.
- Questions you can expect when you are scheduling your sleep study appointment are the following:
- Do you snore constantly and loudly?
- Do you experience pauses in breathing during sleep?
- Are you a heavy drinker?
- Do you exercise frequently?
- Do you smoke a lot?
- Does your family have a history of sleep apnea?
- Do you feel tired right after waking up?
A sleep study is formally known as a polysomnography, the word “somn” derived from Latin “Somnus” which means “sleep”.
When you do a sleep study, you most likely will only have to sleep and put on a couple of devices but still be comfortable. You’ll be staying inside a cozy room and you are allowed to bring personal items for sleeping.
What happens is that technicians will be monitoring your brain waves, oxygen levels in the blood, heart rate, breathing along with eye and leg movements as you sleep.
You don’t have to worry because they can do all that with the help of a machine so there is no reason to feel uncomfortable.
Using the bathroom is also completely fine during a sleep study. You are also free to use your own pajamas to make you feel more comfortable.
Sleep studies exist to diagnose sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorder, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, insomnia, and nighttime behaviors like sleepwalking and REM sleep behavior disorder.
Patients are required to arrive at least two hours early before sleeping in the lab.
Before you sleep, technologists will place sensors or electrodes on your head and body so the machines can monitor your sleeping habits. There is no need to worry because you can still move around freely.
Once you’re done with your sleep study, you will now learn about the right air pressure that your body needs.
No need to guess on your own or change the air pressure settings by yourself.
Related Questions
When should I change CPAP pressure?
You should only change your CPAP pressure if you have your doctor’s approval when your breathing pattern changes. In other words, the current pressure you are on is not enough, changing it will be necessary.
If you have an irregular breathing pattern, you might want to switch to an automatic changing CPAP machine.
It automatically detects the air pressure the user needs and adjusts the air pressure to the right one your body needs.
To be safe, consult your doctor to determine when it is the right time to change your CPAP air pressure.
What happens if CPAP pressure is too high?
If the air pressure of your CPAP machine is too high, there’s a possibility that you might experience mask leaks or air swallowing.
If there are leaks from the mask, there are also other problems that might occur such as drying the skin, skin irritation, drying the mouth, trigger allergic reactions or such.
In case the pressure is too low, your sleep apnea may not be properly treated the way it should but it will not cause any other complications.
What is a good AHI index?
A good AHI index or Apnea-Hypopnea Index should be at “<5” which is a normal rate. For mild, it’s 5<15 and for moderate sleep apnea, 15<30. For severe sleep apnea, it’s beyond 15<30.
AHI is an index used to indicate the severity of sleep apnea and it is represented by the number of apnea and hypopnea events per hour of sleep.
The lower events you experience, the lower your AHI index will be.
