The letters “CPAP” stand for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. It is commonly used by persons who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that can cause a person to wake up several times an hour, disrupting their sleep. It can also become a life-threatening condition, causing people to choke and even quit breathing while they are asleep.
If left untreated, this condition can lead to the death of the person suffering from it, so it’s best to follow a list like this one and find the best CPAP mask for your needs.
10 Best CPAP Nasal Masks for Side Sleepers
Here are 10 nasal CPAP masks that are best suited for side sleepers:
- ResMed Mirage Activa LT
- Fisher & Paykel Brevida
- Philips Respironics DreamWear
- ResMed AirFit N20
- Fisher & Paykel Eson 2
- ResMed Mirage FX
- Respironics Amara View
- Fisher & Paykel Simplus
- ResMed AirFit P10
- Philips Respironics Wisp
The Style Of The Nasal CPAP Mask
If you’ve ever been to an optometrist to get new glasses, you know that you have to consider the size of shape of your face and head when deciding on what will be comfortable to you and your lifestyle.
Choosing a nasal CPAP mask is no different. You must first decide what type of mask you’d like to try: Are you going to get something that covers the majority of your face or would you rather try for something that’s similar to a nasal cannula that just fits under the nose?
You have to take into account the actual size of it as well. Just like your shirts and pants come in different sizes, nasal CPAP masks also come in different sizes. You will need to work with your doctor and see if he or she is able to provide sample CPAP masks in the office so that you can get the sizing correct.
If you’re buying the mask online, the distributor should be able to provide a good set of instructions showing how you can even adjust the straps for a more comfortable fit.
You will also need to consider your bed-time rituals when looking through nasal CPAP mask reviews. Are you a person who goes to sleep about half of a second before your head hits the pillow, or are you someone who lies awake and reads for a while before you go to sleep? This can affect the style and size of the CPAP mask that you purchase as well.
Getting Used To A Nasal Cpap Mask!
For people, adjusting to wearing a nasal CPAP mask takes no time at all. They put it on, turn it on, and fall right to sleep to the best nights of sleep they’ve had in years. For most people, however, a small period of adjustment is necessary.
In the worst cases, some people will feel a sense of claustrophobia when putting on their new CPAP masks. In cases like this, it is often suggested that you try wearing the mask for small periods of time throughout the day while you’re awake so that you can adjust to the feeling of it.
Other people are severely bothered by the “forced air pressure” supplied by the nasal CPAP masks. Unfortunately, that is just something you will have to adjust to if you intend to carry through with the treatment. If you wear the masks for small periods throughout the day, you will adjust to the pressure rather quickly.
Still, others are bothered by irritated skin, dried out nasal passages, or even a stuffy nose due to the CPAP mask. If this is the case for you, you can try various facial lotions to repair the dry or irritated skin.
If it’s irritated sinus passages, there are CPAP masks and machines that feature heated humidifiers. That can re-moisten your airways and provide for a more comfortable experience. You can even try over-the-counter nasal sprays as a quick fix to see if it helps you to adjust to your CPAP mask.
Other Issues With A Nasal CPAP Mask…
Once you’ve selected the correct nasal CPAP mask and gotten adjusted to wearing it, there still may be a few other issues you come across on your journey to a better night’s sleep.
Different CPAP machines can actually be very noisy in your bedroom, and this will disrupt a light sleeper’s ability to sleep. You will first want to make sure that the machine is assembled correctly and that the air filters are properly situated within the CPAP machine.
If everything looks the way it is supposed to look, you may consider getting a pair of sleeping earplugs, similar to what a swimmer may wear, from the local drug store for a couple of dollars. You can also find a device online called a “white noise sound machine” which works to mask the noise and may keep you from hearing it at all!
Persons who move around a lot in their sleep may find that they accidentally remove the mask during the night. Luckily, there are several solutions to keep this from happening.
First, you can check to see if you have a properly-fitted mask and that the straps are adjusted correctly. Second, you should see if your CPAP mask has an optional chin strap that helps to hold it into place properly.
If neither of those suggestions helps to solve your problem, there is another solution. Try setting your alarm clock (or cell phone) to go off at certain intervals in the night. When it goes off, check to see if your mask is still on your face the way that it should be. Each night, set the alarm for a little later until you eventually find that you no longer need to wear it.
As you can tell from this nasal CPAP mask review, there are many factors that go into getting a good night’s sleep for a person suffering from sleep apnea. Getting a properly-sized CPAP mask, making sure that you adjust it correctly, and even picking out the right type of mask are only part of the solution.
You will also need to ensure proper usage of the mask and you may even have to wake up during the night to see if it’s staying on your face correctly. If you’ve found this nasal CPAP mask review helpful, please click around the site and see what else we have to offer!