Studies show that
currently, around 22 million Americans are struggling with sleep apnea, and
among these cases, 80% fall in the group of moderate to severe undiagnosed OSA
or obstructive sleep apnea. Fortunately, nowadays the society is finally recognizing sleep
apnea as a life-threatening disease, but there’s a lot to do in addition to
recognizing its danger. People should seek treatment procedures, like
using an anion oxygen concentrator and one such standard
treatment is via a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) mask.
However, studies show
that around 83 percent of patients generally don’t comply with their CPAP
therapy and a majority of them don’t wear their masks. Why? Because
reportedly, some patients aren’t comfortable with the way that their masks fit,
or some masks are simply not comfortable to wear for prolonged six hours of
sleep. Therefore, it’s important to know about the different types of masks and
find the one that will fit you. Below are the three most common types of CPAP
masks that doctors recommend to their patients. Look at the pros and cons and
find out the one for you!
#1 Nasal Pillows
The CPAP masks nasal
pillows are a relatively compact and lightweight option as compared to
the other two. Nasal pillows are designed to allow
minimal contact with the face, and they work best with low to
moderate pressure settings. A physician usually recommends nasal pillows to
patients who have a lot of facial hair, who breathe through their nose, who are
claustrophobic, or who consistently toss and turn in their sleep.
Although nasal pillows have the most number of advantages, the only downside is
that patients who require higher pressure would feel inconvenience with nasal
pillows.
#2 Nasal CPAP Masks
Nasal CPAP masks
deliver a direct airflow to the lungs via the nasal mask, and they work
excellently for patients who require high-pressure settings. The mask usually
covers the nose of the patients from the bridge to the upper lip area, and they
are midway between the lightweight CPAP nasal pillows and bulky full face
masks. Physicians usually recommend Nasal CPAP masks to patients:
·
Who prefer a natural airflow
·
Who need high-pressure settings, and
·
Who wants a good
selection of mask options to pick from.
#3 Full face CPAP
masks
Unlike the nasal
pillows or nasal masks that exclusively seal the nose of the patients,
the CPAP full face mask is responsible for
covering the mouth and nose of the patients. They create a better seal by
covering a larger area of the patient’s face. Although the masks are a bit
uncomfortable, they are perfect for patients who need high pressure while
breathing through their mouth. Physicians usually recommend full face masks if
the patient has to breathe primarily through his mouth, sleep on his back,
requires a high-pressure CPAP setting, or has underlying medical issues that
make breathing through the nose difficult for them.
Gathering facts and
going through CPAP education is important to be proactive in therapy. So,
better find out your chances and opportunity windows to recover fast from
disease as dangerous as sleep apnea by choosing the best treatment procedure.
