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Getting a good night’s sleep is just as important to your overall health as eating well and exercising regularly. That’s why it’s so important to understand your Healthy Sleep. For instance, snoring or regularly waking up tired means you probably aren’t getting the type of quality sleep you need.

How to get a good night’s sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep requires more than just going to bed on time.

Why is sleep important?

Learn about the different phases of sleep and what they mean. Why sleep is so important to your overall health and what happens if you don’t get enough of it.

What causes snoring?

Snoring is a common problem caused by the relaxation of muscles in your nose and throat. However, it can be an indication of something more serious.

CPAP therapy

CPAP therapy stands for continuous positive airway pressure. CPAP pumps air under pressure into the airway of the lungs, keeping the windpipe open during sleep. The positive airflow delivered by CPAP prevents episodes of airway collapse that block the breathing in people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and other breathing problems.

CPAP therapy
CPAP therapy for OSA

It called nasal continuous positive airflow pressure (nCPAP) – CPAP therapy

Important to realize Obstructive Sleep Apnea afflicts 20 million adult men and women in North America. People who have OSA stop breathing repeatedly during sleep because the airway collapses. Airway collapse may be due to such factors as a large tongue, extra tissue in the airway, or decreased muscle tone holding the airway open. As a result, air is prevented from getting into the lungs. These pauses in breathing can happen 30 times or more per hour. When healthy sleep interrupts in this way, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and other serious health conditions may increase. SleepAdvice can supplies normal and portable CPAP machines, masks and accessories!

Who should use CPAP therapy

CPAP can successfully treat most people with obstructive sleep apnea. It is safe and works well for people of all ages, including children. First thing to remember if you only have mild sleep apnea and do not feel very sleepy during the day, you may not need it.

After using CPAP regularly, you may notice:

  • Better concentration and memory;
  • Feeling more alert and less sleepy during the day;
  • Improved sleep for your bed partner;
  • Being more productive at work;
  • Less anxiety and depression and a better mood;
  • Normal sleep patterns;
  • Lower blood pressure (in people with high blood pressure).

CPAP works by keeping a steady pressure of forced air in your airway to keep it open. Other devices work in slightly different ways to treat sleep apnea:

  • Autotitrating positive airway pressure (APAP) changes pressure throughout the night based on your breathing patterns;
  • Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) has a higher pressure when you breathe in and lower pressure when you breathe out.

BiPAP is useful for children and adults who have:

  • Airways that collapse while sleeping, making it hard to breathe freely;
  • Decreased air exchange in the lung;
  • Muscle weakness that makes it difficult to breathe, due to conditions such as muscular dystrophy.

CPAP or BiPAP may also use by people who have:

  • Respiratory failure;
  • Central sleep apnea;
  • COPD;
  • Heart failure.

How CPAP therapy works

When using CPAP:

  • You wear a mask over your nose and / or mouth while you sleep;
  • The mask is connected by a hose to a small machine that sits at the side of your bed;
  • The machine pumps air under pressure through the hose and mask and into your airway while you sleep. This helps keep your airway open.
OSA and how CPAP works

You may start to use CPAP during your free CPAP / BiPAP Trial for the first night:

  • Your respiratory therapist will help choose the mask that fits you best;
  • We will adjust the settings on the machine while you are asleep;
  • The settings will be adjusted based on the severity of your sleep apnea.
How to setup your CPAP equipment on SleepAdvice.ca

If you are using CPAP but your symptoms do not improve, the settings on the machine may need changing. We may teach you how to adjust the CPAP at home. Or, you may need to contact to the SleepAdvice to have it adjusted.

Getting use to the Device – CPAP therapy

It can take time to get used to using a CPAP device. The first few nights of CPAP therapy are often the hardest. You may not sleep well at the start of treatment.

If you are having problems, you may be tempted not to use CPAP for the whole night. This is normal. After a few nights, you will get used to it and may be able to wear the machine for the entire night. If not, contact your therapist for some advice or book a follow up.

When using CPAP for the first time, you may have:

  • A feeling of being closed in (claustrophobia);
  • Chest muscle discomfort, which usually goes away after awhile;
  • Eye irritation;
  • Redness and sores over the bridge of your nose;
  • Runny or stuffed-up nose;
  • Sore or dry mouth;
  • Nosebleeds;
  • Upper respiratory infections.

Many of these problems can be helped or prevented:

  • Ask your doctor or therapist about using a mask that is lightweight and cushioned. Some masks are used only around or inside the nostrils;
  • Make sure the mask fits correctly so that it does not leak air. It should not be too tight or too loose;
  • Try nasal salt water sprays for a stuffed nose;
  • Use a humidifier to help with dry skin or nasal passages;
  • Keep your CPAP equipment clean;
  • Place your CPAP machine underneath your bed to limit noise;
  • Most machines are quiet, but if you notice sounds that make it hard to sleep, tell your doctor or therapist;
  • Try wearing your CPAP mask during the day to accustomize yourself. You should also use your CPAP therapy during naps.
How to put your CPAP mask on

Your doctor or therapist can lower the pressure on the CPAP machine and then increase it again at a slow pace. With this in mind some new machines can automatically adjust to the pressure.

Daily cleaning:

  • Mask: Remove the mask / nasal pillows from the headgear. Clean with warm, soapy water. Rinse;
  • Tubing: Wash in warm soapy water, then rinse and air dry;
  • Humidifier: Empty the humidifier and let it air dry. Change the water in the humidifier.
How to clean your CPAP equipment
  • CPAP – Continuous Positive Airway Pressure;
  • BiPAP – Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure;
  • AVAPS – Average Volume Assured Pressure Support;
  • APAP – Autotitrating Positive Airway Pressure;
  • nCPAP – nasal Continuous Positive Airflow Pressure;
  • NIPPV – Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation;
  • NIV – Non-Invasive Ventilation;
  • OSA – Obstructive Sleep Apnea;
  • CSA – Central Sleep Apnea.