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CPAP Machines: Tips For Avoiding 10 Common Problems
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By Mayo Clinic Staff
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November 19 at 11:25 pm
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a common treatment for sleep apnea. It includes a small CPAP machine that supplies a constant and steady air pressure, a hose, and a mask or nose piece. Common problems with CPAP include a leaky mask, trouble falling asleep, and a dry mouth or nose.
The good news is that if one CPAP mask or device doesn't work for you, you have other options. And most CPAP masks are adjustable, to help make them more comfortable for you. Here are 10 common CPAP problems and what you can do about them.
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Comments (9 comments)
Add your commentWhy does my Cpap dry my mouth and throat out? It has my tongue really sore from drying out so back, I put a lip balm on my teeth at night and that helps that but what can I do about my mouth and throat?
Yes the Boitene toothpaste & mouthwash do work. I had problems with my sinuses before I got the CPAP. My sinuses are about the same as before, sometimes i can breathe better with my CPAP.
UncleLou..from my own personal experience, the higher you turn the heat up on your unit at night the quicker you will go through water..which leads to dry mouth. Keep your temp just below mid-temp and you shouldn't have the dry mouth because more water is retained over the period of time. Also the time spent on the unit also affects how long the water stays in the unit. Try that out and see how it works.
It has been about a week or so now. I woke up on a sunday I didnt feel right so I went back to bed and when I woke up and got out of bed I had the dizzies really bad. Not sure why that happen. Has anyone had this before.
unclelou - for your dry mouth try a toothpaste called Biotene and also the mouthwash. I have a full face mask due to sleeping with my mouth open. I have noticed that it helps.
The air exit always rushed across my nose or cheeks, keeping me awake. I found that if I tucked the hose under the pillow directly above my head, the air was diverted away from my face.
Are you using a good chin strap? The only time I have dry mouth is when I don't use the chin strap and my mouth falls open.
During the summer I have a hard time using the chin strap as the most comfortable one I have found, makes my face too hot and I can't afford to keep my house cool enough. But during the winter, I keep my house cooler and the chin strap keep my face nice and warm.
Also, I since I started changing the water chamber every 3 months, and use only distilled water, my sinus infections have become less frequent. When I started changing my hose every 6 months, the frequency dropped again.
My insurance doesn't cover the additional chambers and hose, but it saves on office visits so I do it.
I really hope this helps.
Let me add, the CPAP, as vital as it is, exacerbates my allergies and, sometimes, contributes to sinus infections.
I've tried virtually all of the dry mouth and sinus remedies and nothing works. I've been to the CPAP experts and they have no solution for me, either. I have a CPAP with distilled water chamber and a heated hose, but I still wake up with a dry mouth and horribly congested sinuses. Oh, let me add: I've endured 7 nasal operations in 11 years to open up my breathing. Nothing has relieved these problems and, yes, the nasal pillows fit the way they're supposed to. Is my case hopeless?