What are CPAP Advantages and Disadvantages

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What are CPAP Advantages and Disadvantages

The CPAP machine works wonders for many people with sleep apnea but not every machine is perfect so there are still disadvantages. Let me tell you about the good and bad things a CPAP machine might have.

So what are the CPAP advantages and disadvantages? There are more advantages, making at least 16 facts in the list while the disadvantages only have 10 facts. Check the list below!

  • CPAP ADVANTAGES
    1. Lessen daytime sleepiness
    2. Anti-snoring device
    3. No more morning headaches
    4. Avoid heart failures
    5. Avoid heart attacks
    6. Stop irregular heartbeats
    7. Prevent stroke
    8. Improved control for emotions
    9. Helps the body control your hormones
    10. Avoid uncontrolled weight gain or loss
    11. Avoiding high blood pressure
    12. Better ability to focus and memorize
    13. Avoid driving accidents
    14. Wake up with full energy
    15. Eliminates risk of seizure
    16. Reduce medical expenses

Now, here’s the disadvantages.

  • CPAP DISADVANTAGES
    1. Drying the skin
    2. Lack of comfort
    3. Not good for claustrophobic patients
    4. Dry and stuffy nose
    5. Skin irritation
    6. Triggers certain allergic reaction
    7. Loud noises
    8. Dry mouth
    9. Difficulty falling asleep
    10. Accidentally unplugging the machine

Keep in mind, CPAP machine disadvantages rarely happen which is why it is still being used by many people until today.

But how does the advantages and disadvantages of a CPAP machine actually work? Don’t worry, we have the complete details for you. Read on to learn more about the amazing CPAP machines.

What are CPAP Advantages

Let us explain the advantages with more detail to help you understand how it works!

  1. Lessen daytime sleepiness
    • Sleep apnea can make it difficult to fall asleep at night. If you use CPAP, you may prevent this.
  2. Anti-snoring device
    • Using a CPAP mask can control snoring tendencies. Sleep apnea patients are often loud and constant snorers but with CPAP, now you can sleep better.
  3. No more morning headaches
    • Sleep apnea also causes headaches. CPAP users report better mornings without headaches after using CPAP.
  4. Avoid heart failures
    • May lead to fatal conditions such as brain damages or even death, CPAP can prevent heart failures caused by sleep apnea.
  5. Avoid heart attacks
    • Sleep apnea can trigger heart attacks and can also be severely threatening however, this can be prevented by using the CPAP machine.
  6. Stop irregular heartbeats
    • Irregular heartbeats worsens the ability to breathe and it can trigger anxiety but CPAP can bring your heartbeat pattern back to normal.
  7. Prevent stroke
    • Getting hit by stroke can leave permanent damage that may lead to paralysis. Sleep apnea can also be the cause of stroke but the help of CPAP machine can lessen the risk of stroke.
  8. Improved control for emotions
    • Sleep apnea can cause irritability and mental or emotional problems because it affects our physical health and our brain but CPAP can prevent it.
  9. Helps the body control your hormones
    • Being sleep deprived can actually trigger diabetic tendencies! This is because your hormones will lose control due to lack of sleep which can be prevented or fixed by CPAP machines.
  10. Avoid uncontrolled weight gain or loss
    • Sleep apnea also messes with the body’s hormones, causing the patient to usually gain weight uncontrollably. For rare cases, patients lose weight too. CPAP machines can prevent this.
  11. Avoiding high blood pressure
    • Aside from your physical health, hypertension can also affect your mental health and relationship with people around you including your work. CPAP treatment can prevent this.
  12. Better ability to focus and memorize
    • Sleep apnea reduces your ability to focus and worsens ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), but using CPAP machine can improve your ability to focus!
  13. Avoid driving accidents
    • People with sleep apnea are prone to daytime sleepiness and can get sleepy while driving or lose focus which can lead to accidents, using a CPAP machine can prevent that.
  14. Wake up with full energy
    • With sleep apnea, your energy will be reduced since you are unable to sleep well. The CPAP machine can fix that for you.
  15. Eliminates risk of seizure
    • Sleep apnea patients are more prone to seizures during sleep compared to epilepsy patients without sleep apnea.
  16. Reduce medical expenses
    • Untreated sleep apnea can lead to worsened health conditions or bring in other risky illnesses that can be prevented by using a CPAP machine, this way, you can avoid extra medical bills.

What are CPAP Disadvantages

Next, let’s talk about the disadvantages in detail too.

  1. Drying the skin
    • The CPAP machine can, without a doubt, dry the skin with the air pressure it gives along with the humidifier. Try using skin lotions in the morning or after bathing to counter this effect.
  2. Lack of comfort
    • CPAP masks are usually attached to the machine using a wire or a cord that is sometimes, not long enough to let the users move freely. This is one of the top complications of using CPAP.
  3. Dry and stuffy nose
    • Similar to the skin, the CPAP machine can dry out your nose too. It can cause nasal congestion or a runny nose.
  4. Not good for claustrophobic patients
    • Claustrophobic users might have their phobia triggered.

      Even those who are not claustrophobic may feel “suffocated” when wearing the mask and have the short cord that limits their movement.
  5. Skin irritation
    • The air pressure can cause the skin to be irritated or pressured. If the machine is also not properly maintained, it can lead to severe irritation that may spread out.
  6. Triggers certain allergic reaction
    • Depending on the materials used to fabricate the mask and other parts of the machine that makes contact with your skin, it may or may not trigger specific allergic reactions.
  7. Loud noises
    • Just like any typical airing device, the CPAP machine makes loud noises whenever it is on. This can make it harder to sleep or for anyone that can hear it.
    • You may read about “How to Quiet Down a CPAP Machine” for some tips.
  8. Dry mouth
    • Not only your nose, but the CPAP machine can also dry out your mouth. This may lead to infection if the machine is also not properly maintained.
  9. Difficulty falling asleep
    • Every person is different, not everyone can easily get used to sleeping with a mask on that is attached to a loud machine with a short wire. It can be very challenging or even stressful.
  10. Accidentally unplugging the machine
    • Due to the short cord that some CPAP machines are designed with, when the user falls into sleep and unconsciously moves around, they may end up unplugging the machine.

How CPAP causes Disadvantages

Here’s the list of possible reasons why the effective CPAP machine may still have cons.

  1. Wrong air pressure
    • Sometimes, the air pressure may be too low or too high that can lead to complications. Get the right air pressure by consulting your doctor.
  2. Incompatible mask
    • Different people need different types of masks. It can depend on the facial structure, the sleeping habits or more.
  3. Leaky, worn out mask
    • An old mask may no longer stick to your face properly and will not be properly “sealed” and cause leaks.
  4. Incorrect humidifier setting
    • Some people also use a humidifier along with their CPAP machines. Using the wrong humidifier settings can end up worsening your condition.
  5. Unmaintained CPAP machine
    • Companies suggest users to clean the machine and its equipment on a daily basis, but ideally, cleaning it weekly is also acceptable. Not doing so can lead to complications.
  6. Improper setup of the machine
    • It is possible that the machine is not properly set up, the cord may not be attached properly or the machine is placed in a room with not enough air or such.
  7. Defective or fake CPAP machine
    • The risk of buying without a doctor’s prescription is buying a defective machine that may lead to complications. A legitimate product is always safe and guaranteed to work perfectly.
  8. Old or worn out CPAP machine
    • CPAP machines can last up to 7 years if properly maintained. If you’ve been using a very old CPAP machine, it may no longer work the way it should and might cause complications.

      You should also avoid leaving the machine on if you’re already done using it. The average hours of sleep you should get using the machine should be 6 hours, so turn it off after that.
  9. Sharing the CPAP machine
    • It is not recommended to use someone else’s CPAP machine or share it with someone. This can further complicate your health and potentially lead to more health risks.
  10. Insufficient water level
    • The CPAP machine also uses water to help filter the machine and when the water level goes down, the machine may end up not working and can lead to other complications.

Related Questions

What are the alternatives of a CPAP

Here is a list of alternate treatments if you don’t need a CPAP machine or don’t prefer it. Some of these are lifestyle changes that can also work well against your sleeping conditions like sleep apnea.

  1. Nasal Strips
  2. Oral Appliance
  3. Treat chronic allergies
  4. Rapid Maxillary Expansion
  5. Jaw Advancement Surgery
  6. Surgical Airway Advancement
  7. Avoid sedatives before going to sleep
  8. Try to avoid overworking yourself.
  9. Avoid drinking liquor before bed.
  10. Sleep with your head elevated.
  11. Try to sleep on your sides.
  12. Get plenty of exercises.
  13. Stop or limit smoking.
  14. Drink enough water.
  15. Eat a healthy diet.
  16. Mouth exercises
  17. Sleep on time.
  18. Lose weight.

How to avoid the disadvantages of a CPAP

When you are experiencing the disadvantages of a CPAP, here’s a few tips that can help you avoid it.

  1. Change masks
  2. Check for leaks
  3. Use a different humidifier
  4. Try adjusting the pressure
  5. Clean your CPAP machine
  6. Verify if you have allergies
  7. Stop using the CPAP machine
  8. Stop or limit smoking
  9. Avoid overusing the machine
  10. Visit your doctor