CPAP is one of the most commonly used and effective treatment for sleep apnea as of today and it’s a wonder how many people are actually using it now. Let me provide the statistics for better answers!
So, what is the average age of CPAP users? The average age of CPAP users ranges between 30 to 50 and above.
Today, there are now younger people who are using CPAP but that is because the technology of CPAP continues to be developed and advanced.
Perhaps in the future, we will see more and more children using CPAP and the average age will be different.
Apparently, many people notice they have breathing problems at night and only try to confront the condition properly as they reach the age of 20 and above.
Some of them, even when they are diagnosed with sleep apnea, choose to ignore the problem.
It is not surprising that some people do not take sleep apnea’s threats to their health seriously. However, as they reach the age of 30 and beyond, they decide to take it seriously and begin the usage of CPAP.
This is why studies also show that more people who are in their late 20’s or in their 30’s are more likely to be diagnosed with sleep apnea, but in reality, they’ve been struggling with it for a very long time.
They only decided to get properly diagnosed later on.
Nowadays, parents who are aware of their children’s breathing problems during sleep tend to use CPAP for their kids more than before.
Once again, this is because technology continues to be discovered and become more “affordable” for people as it grows more common.
During the previous years, the average estimated age of CPAP users start around 50 years old to 60 but now it has gone down to 30 years ago.
There is still more to learn about CPAP and using it such as when’s the right time to use it? Why you have to use it? What are the benefits? All of those questions will be answered as you read on!
What average age to become a CPAP user
Actually, there is no age requirement for someone to use the CPAP treatment. The patient only needs to be properly diagnosed in order to find out the right type of CPAP mask and machine for them.
Each one provides different air pressure depending on what their body needs. The older types cannot adjust the air pressure but the newly developed machines can do so.
Depending on the patient’s needs, the machine type can be different.
Any one, even an infant can use the CPAP treatment.
Newborn babies tend to have a temporary sleep apnea that they will outgrow later on. But for safety, some doctors recommend using CPAP for the child.
Little kids up to teenagers can use CPAP without problem as long as they have been properly diagnosed to understand what they really need for treatment.
How CPAP users of any age benefits from the treatment
Now, what’s the good thing about CPAP treatment that any age can experience? Well, the CPAP treatment has a lot of good things to offer to our health. Here’s a list of positive effects the CPAP has for its users.
- Lessen daytime sleepiness
- Sleep apnea can make it difficult to fall asleep at night. If you use CPAP, you may prevent this.
- Anti-snoring device
- Using a CPAP mask can control snoring tendencies.
- Avoid morning headaches
- Sleep apnea also causes headaches. CPAP users report better mornings without headaches after using CPAP.
- Avoid heart failures
- May lead to fatal conditions such as brain damages or even death, CPAP can prevent heart failures caused by sleep apnea.
- 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.
- Stop irregular heartbeats
- Worsens the ability to breathe
- Can trigger anxiety
- CPAP can bring your heartbeat pattern back to normal.
- Prevent stroke
- Can leave permanent damage
- 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.
- Avoid depression
- Not an easy condition to treat, sleep apnea can cause mental problems but CPAP can prevent that
- Avoiding the risk of diabetes
- Leaves you prone to more heart attacks
- 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.
- Avoiding high blood pressure
- Aside from your physical health, this can also affect your mental health and relationship with people around you including your work. CPAP treatment can prevent this.
- Avoid worsening ADHD
- Sleep apnea reduces your ability to focus which is what happens when you have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Having a lack of control to focus can lead to frustration
- 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.
- Avoiding the risk of seizures
- Sleep apnea patients are more prone to seizures during sleep compared to epilepsy patients without sleep apnea.
When do you need to use CPAP
- When you snore heavily
- Maybe, it can be a sign of fatigue but snoring loudly and usually can be a sign of sleep apnea.
- Sudden weight gain or loss
- Losing control of your weight can be a sign of sleep apnea.
- Gasping for air during sleep
- The feeling of drowning without knowing it and suddenly you’re out of air.
- If you have insomnia
- Having trouble going to sleep because you have breathing problems that you may not notice
- If you experience hypersomnia
- Having trouble staying awake in the morning because you were unable to sleep well due to your sleep apnea
- Waking up with a headache
- Sleep apnea can disturb your body’s “charging” state. Since you can’t sleep well, your body will use energy for means that can help you breathe which may lead to headaches.
- Waking up with a dry mouth
- With sleep apnea, the person tends to snore and keep their mouth open when gasping for air which leads to a dried up mouth once we awaken.
- Decreased ability to focus
- Sleep apnea can give lack of sleep which will also result in difficulty to focus on anything
- Feeling uncomfortable
- Your lack of energy due to sleep apnea can make you feel uncomfortable and irritable without your knowledge
- Suddenly stop breathing during sleep
- Your housemates should notice this and tell you about it. Sleep apnea can disrupt breathing that may last for up to 10 seconds which is already risky.
You must also keep in mind that a formal medical check up or a sleep study can be done to properly determine if you have any sleeping condition that requires the help of CPAP machines.
How CPAP works for its users
The CPAP machine is short for “continuous positive airway pressure”, it provides the air to keep the patients breathing during sleep because sleep apnea is caused by an obstruction in the airway or inability to breathe.
It happens when the brain fails to send the right signals to your muscles that enable you to breathe. This is called “central sleep apnea”.
If your difficult breathing is caused by your anatomical features such as a narrow throat which can make breathing difficult, it is classified as “obstructive sleep apnea”.
Both can be improved by the CPAP machine so if you have any of those sleeping conditions, immediately consider the use of CPAP machine.
The machine comes with a mask which can be different depending on the user. It can be a half or full-faced mask. It is attached to the machine using wires that is long enough to ensure the user can move.
However, this is the problem found by most of its users that cannot tolerate the mask is attached to the wire. For them, it makes sleeping even more difficult.
In this case, you may also learn about the other options you can use for treating conditions such as sleep apnea.
How much is the CPAP machine?
CPAP machines can cost between $500, $850 up to $3000 depending on the brand and place where you live.
The newly invented CPAP machines are smaller which can provide more comfort and can adjust to the user’s breathing pattern for better treatment.
The older CPAP machines have a fixed air pressure that it can provide and comes in larger sizes which is why more and more people are looking for alternatives if they cannot afford the new CPAP machines.
It is suggested to check with your insurance company if they can cover the costs for CPAP machine treatment to save money.
How long CPAP machine can last
A properly cared for CPAP machine can last up to seven years. Machines tend to last longer as long as it is properly maintained but if you want to be safe, it is usually replaced once every seven years.
Related Questions
How many hours per night should CPAP be used?
CPAP should be used for at least 6 hours per sleep in order to effectively reduce the long-term health risks of obstructive sleep apnea. Using it for up to 8 hours is also okay, but must be maintained at around 6 to 8 hours.
Can you get sleep apnea at any age?
Yes, you can get sleep apnea at any age. Anyone is prone to sleep apnea however, there are certain age groups that are at higher risk for sleep apnea.
