How to Get a CPAP Mask

Before you get a CPAP mask, you must get a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. If you or someone you know suffers from loud snoring and feels tired even after long stretches of rest, sleep apnea might be the cause. Luckily, CPAP machines can treat the condition by keeping your airways clear and your breathing consistent. According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, 24 percent of men and 9 percent of women suffer from sleep apnea. This disorder is the interruption of breath for 10 to 30 seconds and can cause high-blood pressure, stroke, cardiovascular disease, weight gain and tiredness.

Things You'll Need

• Prescription for CPAP

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Instructions

• 1

  Call your insurance company to see if you need a referral from your primary care physician to see a sleep specialist, and if you are required to go to a specific sleep clinic or see a specific specialist.

• 2

  Go to a sleep clinic for testing to see if you have sleep apnea. Because CPAP machines are medical devices approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration you must have a sleep test performed and a doctor's prescription in order to purchase a machine.

• 3

  Discuss the results of the sleep test, and treatment of your condition, with your doctor.

• 4

  Receive referrals from your doctor and insurance company for durable medical equipment vendors that sell CPAP machines. Go to the chosen vendor and choose a CPAP machine, get fit for a mask and receive instructions on use.

• 5

  Call the medical equipment vendor if your mask doesn't fit correctly and is not helping you sleep. The vendor will tell you if you need a prescription for the replacement mask. Also, check with your insurance company to see if they cover a replacement mask; many companies will only approve one replacement per year, and you will need to pay for the replacement out of pocket.