HomeHealthCPAP:  Humidifier Delivers Heated Air through CPAP

CPAP Improved with Humidifier and Heated Air

A CPAP heated humidifier is one accessory available to CPAP users that can help make CPAP treatment easier to tolerate. CPAP is the most commonly recommended treatment for sleep apnea because it is easy, simple, and effective. Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that results in constant fatigue due to interruptions throughout the night in normal breathing and sleep patterns. Although it is hard for many sufferers of sleep apnea to be diagnosed correctly, once the problem is identified regular use of a CPAP machine can result in dramatic improvements in a person's health and energy.

CPAP Heated Humidifier Eases Discomfort

A CPAP heated humidifier is only one of the many possibilities for attachments and accessories for the CPAP machine. A CPAP machine works by delivering pressurized air into the lungs through a breathing mask worn by the sleep apnea sufferer. The constant stream of air during inhalation and exhalation prevents the airway from collapsing or becoming obstructed, which is the problem that results in sleep apnea. The entire treatment occurs outside the body, which means that the process is a non-invasive way to prevent or eliminate problems associated with the disorder.

Despite its proven success, use of a CPAP machine to treat sleep apnea is not without potentially negative side effects. Most people are not accustomed to breathing fast moving air through a breathing mask. As a result, the tissues lining the nasal and throat passages often undergo more stress during CPAP therapy than during regular breathing. The fast moving air dries out the tissues, resulting in soreness and sometimes even nosebleeds. At the very least, the nose and throat can be uncomfortable and annoying to the CPAP user, in some cases being enough of a problem to cause the sleep apnea sufferer to discontinue CPAP therapy.

A CPAP heated humidifier can help this problem because it adds moisture to the air pumped into the lungs from the CPAP machine. The added moisture does not irritate the tissues in the nose and throat as much and results in better, more comfortable breathing. The heated humidifier is only one option for CPAP machines; it is also possible to get an unheated humidifier. However, the heated humidifier often works more effectively because heated air can hold more moisture than unheated air and it does not require the nasal tissues to warm it before being transported into the lungs. Although not everyone will experience problems related to CPAP use, if you do find yourself with nose or throat discomfort, try buying a CPAP heated humidifier.

CPAP Articles

More CPAP Info