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CPAP Masks and Headgear - Get Your Life Back!

Updated on July 18, 2011

CPAP masks and headgear look a little intimidating at first. Many people with sleep apnea or other sleep disorders take one look and run in the other direction. But before you do that, take some time to learn about CPAPs, the best CPAP masks, CPAP machine side effects and finding cheap CPAP masks.

CPAP Masks and Headgear

Get the sleep you need with CPAP masks and headgear.
Get the sleep you need with CPAP masks and headgear. | Source

What is a CPAP Mask?

CPAP is an acronym for "continuous positive airflow pressure". Other names for CPAP are Bilevel positive airway pressure, BiPAP, and sleep apnea CPAP mask. All confusing names - right? Don’t let these names or the way the CPAP looks scare you off though.

A CPAP mask is a device you wear over your nose when you sleep. The CPAP machine weighs about 5 pounds and sits on your nightstand or under your bed. A tube connects the CPAP with the mask and pumps continuous air to your nostrils allowing you to breathe better and prevent sleep apnea.

Who Needs CPAP Masks and Headgear?

The most common use for CPAP masks and headgear are people with Central Sleep Apnea but your doctor may prescribe one for you if you have acute respiratory failure or some form of COPD. Different forms of COPD include chronic bronchitis and emphysema and cpap masks help these conditions.

CPAP Mask Benefits

CPAP continues to be the best treatment for sleep apnea. It's safe, doesn’t have side effects and patients with sleep disorders or sleep apnea of all ages can use it. People who use CPAP masks and headgear report having better concentration, better memory, increased energy, improved alertness, normal sleep, improved work performance and better moods.

If you suffer from sleep apnea, snoring, or other sleep disorders you know what a big deal it is. These conditions begin affecting your entire life. When you don’t get quality or enough sleep, you begin a cycle of feeling tired all the time - many times you're more tired when you get up than when you went to bed. 

Because you're tired and have less energy, it affects other important parts of your life. You don’t feel well. You're grouchy because you're so tired, and you can't seem to concentrate and stay on task at home or at work. Your work performance begins to suffer which causes even more anxiety. You're too tired to play with your  kids or visit with your spouse at the end of the day. 

These issues may not seem that important at first, but over time, they add up causing a whole range of problems. Using a CPAP mask can clear up many of these problems just by improving your sleep.

Get a Good Night's Sleep

CPAP Machine Side Effects

While the benefits of using a CPAP machine are many, it takes some people a while to adjust to using a CPAP and some people never do. As far as side effects of the CPAP machine, the most common ones are eye irritation, irritation on the bridge of your nose, dry mouth and nosebleeds.

The level of airflow and the fit of the CPAP mask and headgear cause these problems. You can fix these problems by adjusting the airflow and the way your mask and headgear fit. If you have problems with dryness in your nose, mouth, or sinuses, you can use a humidifier in your room to correct these problems.

Some people are claustrophobic and simply can't stand the 'closed-in' feeling the mask gives them. Others experience slight discomfort in their chest muscles, which usually goes away after several nights.

Others are bothered by the noise the CPAP machine makes as it runs. This usually just takes getting used to, but some CPAP users put the machine under their beds and the noise no longer bothers them.

Best CPAP Masks

The best CPAP masks are the ones your doctor recommends for you. If you're working with a sleep disorder specialist, this is what he deals with on a daily basis. He regularly prescribes CPAP masks and headgear and gets constant feedback from patients as to what works best and what causes problems.

Listen to your doctor and try his recommendations first. If you don’t like the CPAP masks or headgear he prescribed for you or you want to find CPAP masks cheap, look online. There are many wholesale websites that offer cheaper prices, work with your insurance company, and give you a wider range of choices. 

Making the Right Choice

Before you let CPAP masks and headgear intimidate and you run screaming away from your doctor, take some time to review and think about the CPAP information in this hub. Sleep apnea is a serious condition that increases your risk for heart disease among other problems. Don’t take sleep problems for granted.

Take the time to educate yourself about CPAP masks and headgear, choose the best CPAP machine that's right for you, and give yourself time to adjust to using the machine. Before you know it, you'll enjoy getting a good night's sleep again and all the health benefits that go along with it.

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