For those new to their sleep apnea diagnosis, you may be wondering: what does a CPAP machine do? Is the purchase of a CPAP machine the right decision?
What do sleep apnea machines actually do?
A sleep apnea machine, also known as a CPAP machine, assists sleep apnea sufferers by providing an increase in air pressure into the throat, which then allows the airway to stay open when the sleeper inhales.
The importance of CPAP machine use
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and provided a CPAP machine by your doctor, it?s important to use your machine to guarantee a healthy sleeping cycle. While enforcing the use of a CPAP machine for sleep apnea sufferers may appear redundant, studies show nearly 80% of sleep apnea patients fail to use their CPAP machine often enough.
This can be dangerous to sleep apnea sufferers as obstructed breathing during your sleep cycle has the ability to cause various health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke due to the lack of oxygen in the blood caused by the lack of breathing. Sleep apnea is more common, nearly twice as common, in men than it is women and because heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in men it?s of absolute importance to utilize your CPAP machine to ensure the future of your health.
Why do sleep apnea sufferers opt out of using their CPAP machines?
Sleep apnea sufferers may choose not to use their CPAP machines because they find their machines uncomfortable. The mask and tubes and sounds of the machine may be very overwhelming to a sleep apnea sufferer, especially when they?re new to the technology and have never seen a CPAP machine before. However, it?s best to get to know the technology you?re going to be working with for the sake of your health. Consider learning your machine one piece at a time to make the process less overwhelming.
Another way to combat anxiety when using a CPAP machine is to consider the use of various types of CPAP masks. 45% of sleep apnea sufferers favor the use of nasal masks while 50% prefer nasal pillows. The remaining 5% have no preference. Decide which types of CPAP masks work best for you to guarantee optimal comfort.
How much is a sleep apnea machine?
Patients newly diagnosed with sleep apnea may be worrying, ?How much is a sleep apnea machine?? The cost of a CPAP machine depends on your health insurance. According to the Sleep Association many insurance companies ?cover the cost of PAP and BiLevel devices? which typically include ?the mask, hose, filters, and tubing.? However, the average cost of a CPAP machine comes to about $850 and can range anywhere from between $500 to $3,000.
Be sure to contact your health professional and primary care doctor for further answers to health questions such as: Is there a link between my asthma and my sleep apnea? How much is a sleep apnea machine? Does the cost change with my health insurance? A CPAP machine may be right for you.