Since the 1980’s obstructive sleep apnea sufferers have been using CPAP machines and CPAP masks to relieve their night-time breathing difficulties. The early mechanisms were often noisy, bulky, and quite expensive. But today’s devices, especially the Respironics CPAP masks from Philips/Respironics, are streamlined, comfortable, and affordable – giving sleep apnea sufferers more options than they’ve ever had before.

Sleep Apnea is a sleeping disorder characterized by gaps or breaks in breathing while asleep. Breathing stops in most cases because the upper airway becomes obstructed during the night – usually because of the normal relaxation of the soft muscle tissue in the throat. These interruptions deprive the body of oxygen and much needed rest and can have anything from a mild to a severe effect on a person’s health. In some cases, severe sleep apnea can contribute to the onset of congestive heart failure.

To manage sleep apnea, a treatment known as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) was developed. With this treatment, a machine is used to create a positive stream of compressed air that props open the airway and keeps it open throughout the night. Since the airway remains open and unobstructed, breathing continues unhindered at a normal rhythm and a person gets a safe, sound sleep.

A CPAP machine delivers its compressed air usually through a CPAP full-face mask (like the Respironics ComfortGel Full Mask) or a CPAP nasal mask (like the Respironics Comfort Gel Nasal CPAP Mask). The CPAP mask is linked to the machine via a bendable hose and the apnea sufferer wears the mask the entire night to insure regular breathing. In some cases, patients who’ve used a CPAP device for just one night have noticed a marked improvement in their sleep and a marked improvement in their energy levels the next day. Plus a side benefit of CPAP treatment is a reduction in snoring which greatly benefits a patient’s sleep partner as well.

Respironics has been in the business of making sleep therapy products for over 30 years and they’re a leader in developing innovative sleep disorder breathing devices. The Respironics CPAP mask line breaks down into 3 major types:

• CPAP nasal masks
• CPAP full-face masks
• CPAP nasal pillow masks.

In all, there are over a dozen different models in the Respironics line. Why so many different models? Well, in the first place, not everyone breathes the same way when they’re asleep – some people breathe through their nose and others through their mouth. And secondly, if you’ve every worn a CPAP mask you’ll know that masks are only as good as their fit. They must fit naturally and comfortably to the contours of your face. So by creating several different CPAP masks, Respironics can virtually guarantee a fit for everyone and achieve their goal of fitting “100% of their patients 100% of the time.”

CPAP nasal masks are designed to fit completely around the nose. They’re secured by straps that fit around the head in much the same way as a baseball catcher’s mask is secured. In most cases gel pads fit against the nose and face to make the fit comfortable and secure. Respironics CPAP nasal masks are created to have a more “open feel” than full-face CPAP masks and thus provide a wider range of sleep positions for a restful night’s sleep.

CPAP Full-face masks cover a larger facial area than nasal masks. Secured by head straps, the full-face masks are built to cover both the nose and mouth in order to accommodate patients who tend to breathe through their mouth while sleeping. The mask then has a larger contact area against the face than a nasal mask but it still provides a comfortable fit which some patients actually prefer.

CPAP nasal pillow masks have the smallest contact area of any CPAP mask. The term “pillow” is used to describe the way the mask seals against the nose – it uses a cushion-like interface that inserts into the nostrils. Secured by both head and chin straps, nasal pillow masks leave a lot of room for different head positions during sleep. They’re also a very good “first mask” for a sleep apnea patient to try out.

Respironics CPAP masks are a complete line of sleep apnea treatment devices. The company’s been in the business for quite a while and leads the way not only with masks, but with the diagnosis and monitoring of other sleep disorders as well. Their products are very affordable and readily available across several different channels too. The bottom line is that their CPAP masks work to improve patient’s sleep and that, in turn, improves their lives.