My Life and Sleep Apnea

A few weeks ago I wrote about how folks with allergies can have a problem with the CPAP mask . One of the ways to deal with this is cleaning your CPAP mask and machine regularly. I received a very informative comment on how to do this. Here is the comment… Anonymous said... I've been a CPAP user, actually APAP which is much better, for about 4 years now and I wish I had it when I was a child as I probably wouldn't have fallen asleep in class so frequently or had been so lethargic and apathetic. You're right about having to keep the equipment clean but cleaning is simple and takes maybe 15 minutes a week. A quick search can provide numerous cleaning techniques, none much better than pre-washing the equipment, humidifier, hose and mask with non-lotion based soap and then disinfecting the equipment with a 5 minute soaking in a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. Let the parts air dry and then wash your hands before re-assembly. The side effects of not cl...

If you have ever used or tried a CPAP mask to relieve your sleep apnea then you know of how challenging it can be. Whether it is the difficulty of wearing a mask in bed or the noise that it creates it takes time to becomed adjusted. Another challenge or possible concern is that the CPAP mask may cause your allergies to get worse. If you have allergies problems or sinus problems than you may have problems with a CPAP mask. One of the biggest allergies problems is allergic rhinitis, also called hay fever, which is inflammation of the nasal passages. According to Wikipedia allergic rhinitis is “an allergic inflammation of the nasal airways. It occurs when an allergen such as pollen or dust is inhaled by an individual with a sensitized immune system, and triggers antibody production. These antibodies mostly bind to mast cells, which contain histamine. When the mast cells are stimulated by pollen and dust, histamine (and other chemicals) are released. This causes itching, swell...