CPAP Side Effects

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder which causes intermittent cessation of breathing during sleep. The body reacts to this condition, which causes lack of oxygen, by waking from sleep. But, it is not necessary that the person who suffers from this condition, may be aware of the frequent episodes of difficult breathing or interrupted sleep. Even though, there are three types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea is the most common one, as it amounts to almost 85% of the reported cases. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by some sort of physical obstruction to the airflow. For example, relaxed throat muscles may result in obstructive sleep apnea, as these muscles block the airflow.

CPAP Therapy

Sleep apnea is becoming more prevalent in humans, day by day. According to some studies, one in every 15 Americans is affected by this condition. While most of them are unaware of their condition, only a small percentage of such people get diagnosed and treated. If left untreated, it can result in high blood pressure, which in turn raises the risk of heart disease and stroke. The most popular and widely-used treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy. This method of treatment involves the use of a device, which provides constant airflow to keep the airway open, which in turn, facilitates uninterrupted breathing during sleep.

The CPAP machine maintains a continuous flow of compressed air through a hose to a nasal mask, nasal pillow or face mask. The air pressure is determined as per the needs of the patient and may vary from one to another. The right air pressure for a patient is prescribed by the sleep physician after conducting a detailed overnight study of the patient's breathing pattern. Such a prescribed air pressure is termed as 'titrated pressure'. The CPAP machine is set as per the prescribed air pressure and when it is turned on, it blows air at the titrated pressure, so as to hold the air passage open for uninterrupted breathing. Thus, CPAP therapy achieves the desired result, i.e. eliminating apneas. Read more on sleep apnea.

Side Effects of CPAP Machines

Even though, CPAP therapy is the most successful and widely-accepted treatment option for people affected with sleep apnea, there are many CPAP side effects. While, most of the CPAP side effects are actually caused by the wrong selection of masks or the incorrect usage by the patients, there are some indigenous side effects too. The following are some of the CPAP side effects.

Nasal Congestion: Use of CPAP machines may cause nasal congestion. Some patients may experience nasal irritation or a runny nose too. This is because of the fact that the nose humidifies the air that passes through it and the air from CPAP machine dries up the nose. The body reacts by producing more mucus in the nose, which leads to nasal congestion. In some patients, there will be no mucus production and this results in dry nose, which cause nasal irritation, burning or sneezing. CPAP machines with inbuilt humidifier may help you address this problem.

Ear Pressure: CPAP side effects include ear pressure and headaches too. This is commonly experienced by patients with sinus infections, allergies or cold. The congestion caused by these medical conditions can block the ear canals and the air pressure changes, when the patient uses CPAP machine. This leads to trapping of air and ear pressure, which results in ear pain. You may discontinue the use of CPAP machine, if you develop cold or sinus infection, but, only after consulting your doctor.

Breathing Problems: One of the CPAP side effects, experienced by some of the people affected with sleep apnea is difficulty in breathing through the nose. This is mostly seen in people with deviated septum in the nose and those who suffer from allergies. Such people may face difficulty in breathing, as most of the CPAP machines are applied through the nose. They may either consult their doctor to treat the medical condition that causes the discomfort or try the CPAP machines with full face masks.

Excess Gas in Stomach: Some of the users of CPAP machines have raised complaints of stomach pain, gas and bloating. This CPAP side effect is not common, but, it can be due to the use of a large pillow or more than one pillow. This problem can be remedied by sleeping without a pillow or by using a wedge pillow. Lowering the air pressure is another remedy for this CPAP side effect, but it can affect the effectiveness of the treatment.

Discomfort: Though, not a side effect, the discomfort associated with the use of a machine while sleeping, is one among the common complaints from CPAP users. This problem is often associated with the mask, which is fitted over the nose, mouth or full face. People with claustrophobia (fear of being confined in a closed space) may find it difficult to use the mask while sleeping. Some others, with an ill fitting mask may also face discomfort. It can also happen that the patient is not aware about the proper method of using, which causes discomfort.

Read more on:

• CPAP Mask Problems
• Problems with CPAP

Most of the above mentioned CPAP side effects can be overcome by discussing it with your physician. He/she can help you with some medication to fix your problem or by making some adjustments in the device or adding some comfort options. There are many other trivial problems associated with CPAP machines. It includes the noise of the machine, the air being too hot or too cold, dry mouth, mask leakage, etc. However, most of these problems can be fixed by using the best available machine, which has the most innovative and comfortable options. By far, CPAP therapy is considered as an effective method of treating obstructive sleep apnea. If you are not at all comfortable with CPAP therapy, you can also opt for some alternatives to CPAP, like intra-oral dental appliance.