Instructions for Using a CPAP Machine

A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine, or CPAP, is used by patients who are diagnosed with sleep apnea to push air through the airways to keep the throat from being blocked. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes patients to suffer from airway obstruction during sleep. With obstructive sleep apnea, breathing repeatedly stops and starts when throat muscles relax. Another form of sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, occurs when proper signals are not sent from your brain to the muscles that control breathing.

Things You'll Need

• CPAP Machine
• Headgear
• Nasal mask circuit
• Tubing

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Instructions

• 1

  Thoroughly clean and dry your face before using the CPAP machine. The CPAP machine should be on a level surface at the head or side of the bed.

• 2

  Align the headgear with the longer straps on top and the Velcro away from your face. Wrap the Velcro around the tubing. Thread the four tabs through the side and top slots of the mask.

• 3

  Place the mask over your mouth and nose and the headgear on your head. Adjust or tighten to fit snugly. Avoid overtightening, which can lead to soreness or bruising.

• 4

  Turn on the machine and make sure the airflow is continuous and there is no air leaking from around the mask. If the mask is leaking, tighten the head straps.