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CPAP Machines Troubleshooting

A continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, machine is a device used to help people with sleep apnea get quality sleep. Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing repeatedly during the night. The body uses oxygen during sleep to re-energize the body, and when that oxygen is not flowing properly health problems such as heart disease can develop. A CPAP machine is normally used under close medical supervision, but even when the doctor is keeping an eye on your progress, things can still go wrong with your CPAP machine.

  1. Air Pressure

    • Your CPAP mask is fitted by a trained technician when you pick up the CPAP machine, but sometimes your sleeping environment may cause the air being forced into the mask to go around the flexible seal designed to make your mask airtight. Your pillows may cause your mask to move in such a way that the air escapes and either the loud sound of the air from the mask wakes you up, or the constant escape of air can dry out your eyes. The quickest fix for this is to tighten the straps on the mask. Be careful that they are not so tight that they leave deep marks on your face that do not go away in the morning. If this does not solve the problem, your mask may be defective or the wrong size. The best solution to this problem is to have a trained technician check the mask.

    Still Not Getting Quality Sleep

    • After using the CPAP machine for a week or so, you may notice that either you are not feeling any more rested than before the therapy or your chest may hurt when you wake up in the morning. Both of these issues have to do with the air pressure on the CPAP machine. If you are still not getting quality sleep, your doctor might recommend that you alter the pressure on the machine. If you are waking up to a sore chest, your body might not be adjusting to the added airflow pressure, and you need to gradually introduce the airflow into your system. A button on your CPAP machine called the pressure ramp allows you to introduce a reduced pressure when you first go to bed and gradually increase the pressure to the number prescribed by your doctor. Using the pressure ramp should decrease your morning chest pain.

    Dryness in the Morning

    • After a full night of having air forced into your body through your nose, you may wake up with a severe case of cotton mouth and a sour taste in your mouth. You can solve this problem one of two ways. Contact your CPAP provider and ask about adding a humidifier to your machine to add moisture to your therapy regimen. Your other option is to have a water bottle available by your bedside to use when you wake up in the morning. It is personal preference. Some people find it difficult to sleep with a humidifier on their CPAP and do not want the added maintenance of cleaning and changing the water that goes with a humidifier.

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