Growing Trend in Patients Finding Comfort Accessories to Solve Common CPAP Machine and CPAP Mask Problems
Houston, TX (PRWEB) October 28, 2010
Adjusting to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy can be a challenging task. Patients run into common problems with the CPAP machine and CPAP mask that can make adjustment to the CPAP therapy difficult. In recent years, CPAP manufactures like ResMed, Philips Respironics, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, and DeVilbiss Healthcare have made noticeable improvements to CPAP equipment. Even with these recent innovations, there are still common problems that patients encounter every night. However, more and more patients are no longer waiting for CPAP manufacturers to solve their problems. Instead, patients are actively looking for accessory products that alleviate common CPAP therapy issues today in order to make CPAP treatment more comfortable and successful.
Many CPAP patients complain of waking up with red marks and sore spots left from their CPAP mask. The red marks and sores are usually the result of CPAP headgear rubbing on on bare skin, from pressure points on the top of the nose caused by masks with little to no padding or from CPAP nasal pillows rubbing on edges of patients noses. The red marks along the side of the face caused by the CPAP headgear can alleviated with mask strap pads which are typically made from a soft fleece and slide over or wrapped around the headgear straps to provide extra soft padding. Common mask strap pad products are the Pad A Cheek, Snugglehose, and Strapguard. Sores found on the bridge of the nose can be reduced with a mask pad which is worn between the CPAP mask and the patient’s nose and adds additional padding to a facial spot with traditionally little extra cushion. The popular mask pad on the market is the ComfortCarePad by SeQual Technologies. When starting to use CPAP nasal pillows, patients often complain of sores on the edge of their nose. This is from the nasal pillow rubbing on the nose through the night with little to no lubrication. There are CPAP moisture products on the market which are applied nightly to the ends of the nose which help keep the nose lubricated through the night. The common CPAP moisture products are CPAP Therapy Moisture Cream and NeilMed NasoGEL.
Mask leaks can result from many different issues. One common occurrence is a CPAP patient turning to sleep on their side during the night. If the CPAP patient is using a regular pillow, the pillow can push against the mask causing the mask to shift and leak. CPAP pillows help solve this problem. CPAP pillows generally have a butterfly shape with cut outs on the sides to allow the CPAP mask to lay without additional pressure against it. There are many different styles and different filling materials available for CPAP pillows. Another common event that causes mask leaks is CPAP patients getting tangled in their CPAP hose and pulling their mask to the side. There are many hose management products on the market that hold the CPAP hose above the CPAP patient to reduce the chances of patient being tangled or tugging on the hose during the night. Common hose management products are the CPAP Hose Lift and the HoseBuddy. Some patients find that even with a perfect fit, they still experience slight mask leaks at the top of their mask which allows air to be blown into their eyes at night leading to mornings with dry red eyes. For patients who love their mask except for that one leak, a product that can help them sleep through the night without dry eyes is the Onyix Eye Shield. This flexible, soft eye mask is worn under the CPAP mask and helps prevent air from getting into their eyes.
Another common problem CPAP patients encounter especially this time of the year as temperatures drop lower at night, is rainout. Rainout occurs with patients who use a heated humidifier with their CPAP Machine. As the warm, moist air leaves the CPAP humidifier, it travels down the CPAP hose to the CPAP mask. If the air surrounding the CPAP hose is colder than the air inside the hose, the warm, moist air looses its moisture as it travels to the CPAP mask. This causes water to collect in the CPAP hose and CPAP mask. A basic product that helps reduce rainout is a hose cover. Hose covers are usually fleece material that is either slid over the hose or zipped up. The most common hose cover is the Snugglehose which comes in a variety of colors and patterns. The Snugglehose not only helps reduce rainout, but also provide a soft alternative to touch at night compared to the plastic tubing.
These are just a few examples of the many product solutions that patients are turning to more and more to help solve common CPAP therapy issues. The products discussed here along with many other comfort accessories are in stock and available on CPAP.com. CPAP.com strives to keep the latest products in stock complete with thorough information. Their goal is to always stock the largest selection, at the lowest prices, while also providing unmatched customer service. “Patients should not stop using CPAP therapy because they are getting water in their mask, or do not want to go to work with red marks on their face. There are simple affordable solutions available to make CPAP equipment more comfortable and easier to use, and a growing number of patients are turning to these products everyday,” says Johnny Goodman, GM of CPAP.com. A complete selection of CPAP comfort accessories can be found at CPAP.com.
About CPAP.com:
CPAP.com is a family owned company based in Houston, TX. that is the worlds largest online retailer of CPAP machines, CPAP masks, CPAP supplies, and CPAP comfort accessories. CPAP.com is dedicated to providing affordable Sleep Apnea equipment to those who need sleep therapy. More information on CPAP Comfort Accessories can be found by visiting http://www.CPAP.com, or by calling 1.800.356.5221.
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The Quattro FX represents a new design element for ResMed masks. With no forehead support to obstruct views, patients can read in bed or watch television to fall asleep. No forehead support doesn’t mean no support, however. New technologies in the Spring Air™ cushion and Spring frame give the stability and adjustment provided by a conventional forehead support. The high-tech Spring Air cushion distributes pressure evenly and absorbs even the slightest user movements, so users can enjoy a good night’s sleep confident that their seal is safe.