Sleep apnea afflicts an estimated one in every 15 adults, with many unaware of having the condition. Once an individual has been diagnosed and equipped with a continuous airway pressure machine (CPAP), there are several CPAP accessories available that can lead to a more comfortable night's sleep.
Being tethered by a hose that drapes over the pillows, across the sheets, and wedges between the headboard and mattress can cause fitful sleep. This can be remedied. Hose holders are angled wire supports that lift the hose above the bed and out of the way of the sleeper. Installed by slipping a flat support foot under the mattress, the need for any permanent attachment hardware is eliminated. A support tall enough to allow the hose to be suspended from above by a non-restricting pivot lets the sleeper turn easily from side to side during the night without having to disentangle the hose.
For those who sleep in relatively cold rooms and use a humidifying model, condensation in the air hose can be a problem. Using a fabric hose cover can help insulate the hose wall, keeping it warmer than room temperature and preventing condensation from building up and dripping. A hose cover also deadens the sound of rearranging if the ridged hose is pulled against the headboard or a night table.
CPAP mask and hose maintenance can be simplified by using mask wipes. A quick wipe down can be substituted for full disassembly, washing, drying and reassembling the equipment. Individuals that are sensitive to the material of a full nose mask touching the bridge and sides of the nose may find relief by using a nose cushion or comfort pad. These pads assist with mask fit, helping to prevent leaks at facial contact points.
Inline air filters are small spheres, generally made of clear plastic and containing a filter medium, that fit between the outlet of the machine and the air hose. Though all airway pressure equipment includes inlet filtration, an inline air filter can remove particles down to 1.3 micron from the delivered air without restricting the pressure for the sleeper.
Most numerous of all CPAP accessories is the specially shaped pillow. Designed with cutouts and excavations in a variety of resilient materials, some are adapted for back sleepers and others for side sleepers. Several include additional wedges of foam for height adjustment. Pillow selection is highly individual and a few types may need to be tried before settling on a particular configuration. Most manufacturers offer a full range of densities, from soft to very firm, to accommodate a range of preferences.
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