What is Sleep Apnea?
According to ResMed, a leader in sleep apnea machinery and components, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) impacts nearly 1 billion people worldwide. Sleep apnea can lead to many short and long term health conditions such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, cognitive issues such as strokes, as well as other debilitating adverse effects including daytime sleepiness, irritability, brain fog, headaches, and lack of energy. Sleep apnea occurs when the throat relaxes during sleep, allowing the soft palate and tongue to obstruct the airways. This narrowing or blockage of the airway causes periods of stopped breathing (apneas), which occur for greater to or equal to ten seconds. When these events occur, the body signals to the brain that there is not enough oxygen present and that a breath is needed; in response, the patient will breathe, snore, or even gasp for air, which causes interruptions to the sleep cycle. In a single night, a sleep apnea sufferer, can have dozens or even hundreds of sleep disruptions!
Those who suffer with sleep apnea lack sound sleep, which has an effect on many aspects of physical and mental health. When a person sleeps, they will normally go through a sleep cycle, which alternates between sleep and wakefulness. The sleep cycle is broken down into tow stages: Non-REM (NREM) sleep and Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. Non-Rem sleep is categorized by four stages varying between light sleep (easily awakened) to varying levels of deep sleep. During this Non-REM sleep cycle, you are able to get the best and most restorative sleep. The next phase of sleep is REM sleep, which is known as the dream stage. During this sleep phase, the eyes move rapidly, the brain has increased activity, and the body is in a state of paralysis. Sleep apnea sufferer have consistently interrupted sleep patterns, which in turn interrupts the sleep cycle. These patients have been shown to have a reduction in their deep sleep stages, which allows for the most restorative rest, thus causing the feeling of tiredness and daytime sleepy feeling. In direct correlation, they also have an increased percentage of light sleep. Another consequence is the absence of REM sleep. REM sleep is very important in brain function and overall health; a lack of REM sleep can lead to issues such as irritability, poor decision-making, inability to focus or concentrate, impaired problem-solving ability, decreased creativity, increased incidence of depression and mental health issues, a weakened immune system, and an increase of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic disorders. As you can see, disruptions in your sleep can lead to a plethora of issues, and people with sleep apnea can have multiple if not hundreds of disruptions every time they sleep!
The scariest part of it all is that many people who have sleep apnea are unaware of it, and attribute their symptoms to other causes; in fact, according to the the Cleveland Clinic, 85-95% of people with sleep apnea do not know that they have it. Most people are alerted by their partner of signs such as snoring, gasping, and pauses in breathing, which may create disruptions in your loved ones rest as well. If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea, it is imperative to seek medical with a sleep specialist to get you on the road to a better nights rest.
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
Thankfully, the treatment for Obstructive Sleep apnea is an easy fix; CPAP therapy can be utilized in order to maintain a patent airway while asleep, therefore eliminating these events and providing a sounds nights sleep. As we have discussed, effective sleep is necessary for healing, immune support, mental health, and for overall well-being. The utilization of a CPAP machine will help to increase the quality of life for someone who is suffering with sleep apnea, finally allowing them to obtain quality sleep.
At first, the thought of utilizing CPAP therapy may be intimidating, however the vast improvements in life, as well as the prevention of terrible diseases, make the decision of using a CPAP unit an easier decision.
A continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP machine is which is a specialized machine that delivers a consistent pressurized flow through your airways into your lungs by way of a mask. This flow keeps your airways from narrowing or collapsing while you are asleep, allowing you to maintain your oxygen levels in your body and maintain healthy sleep patterns. The CPAP instruments settings are determined by a sleep specialist, who will calibrate your CPAP to meet your specific needs.
CPAP can initially be a bit uncomfortable, but there are many different ways to become acclimated to this major change. For starters, wearing the mask while awake for short periods to get accustomed to having it on your face can be helpful. It is also helpful to make sure that you get a well-fitting mask for optimal comfort. Many CPAP machines, such as the AirSense from ResMed, have a ramp feature, which will start pressure off at a low level and “ramp” up to your prescribed level as you fall asleep. These strategies can help you to feel more comfortable and at ease when you first initiate CPAP therapy.
CPAP Equipment
CPAP supplies include the CPAP unit along with the accessories such as the mask, tubing, headgear, chin strap, nasal pillows, and water chamber for humidity.
Masks fit snugly to the users face, providing the pressure needed to maintain open airways, thus preventing the stoppages in breathing that occur with obstructive sleep apnea. Masks come in different sizes, shapes, and styles. There are full-face masks, nasal masks, nasal pillow masks, and other hybrid masks. The mask that you ultimately choose depends on your sleep style, the positions you sleep in, facial hair, allergies, and other factors. CPAP masks can have features such as soft cushions, light-weight designs, and even masks that fit directly in your nose or mouth (depending on if you breathe through your nose or mouth while sleeping). There are a plethora of mask choices available that are designated to work with your specific unit as well as suite your needs. CPAP masks come in direct contact with your face, meaning that they are susceptible to an accumulation of bacteria and germs. In addition, the constant contact and rubbing of the mask against your face can cause breakdown in the seal of the mask against your face; this mask breakdown causes air to leak out, reducing the efficiency of your CPAP therapy. To prevent this from happening, it is suggested that masks be changed every 3 to 6 months, or if there is any discoloration, visible cracks, or notable wear.
The tubing, which carries warm humidified air from the humidity chamber, connects the mask to the CPAP machine. The humidity chamber, which is filled with distilled water (never tap water), provides moisture needed to keep the airways moist and prevent irritation. The tubing needs to be changed every 3-6 months, and cleansed daily to maintain effective CPAP therapy. The humidity chamber also requires replacement about twice a year, or when the chamber has any kind of deterioration or discoloration; it is imperative to replace these parts when needed to make sure that you are keeping your equipment in good working order, as well as ensuring that you are getting the full extent of your CPAP therapy as prescribed by your physician. The use of degraded, cracked, or unclean components can lead to inferior CPAP therapy as well as respiratory infections and other illnesses.
Other components to CPAP include accessories to ensure comfort such as nasal pillows, as well as accessories to maintain proper CPAP therapy such as chin straps and headgear. Chin straps help to maintain a closed mouth in those who tend to sleep with their mouth open, and headgear comfortably keeps the CPAP mask and tubing in a comfortable place. These components also need to be replaced twice yearly, or more frequently as needed.
There are many different types of CPAP machines available, all of them having their own benefits and features. Based on your needs and the doctors settings, there is a perfect CPAP device that can help you to get a good nights sleep! Now that we have a better understanding of sleep apnea, CPAP therapy, and the equipment utilized, the next important topic is the upkeep, cleaning, and sanitization of your CPAP machine components.
The Importance of Clean CPAP Supplies
It is extremely important to keep your CPAP supplies cleaned on a regular basis, and to ensure that this schedule is stringently maintained. Since the CPAP equipment comes in direct contact with water as well as your face, it creates a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and other pathogens. Improper cleaning of your CPAP supplies can lead to devastating consequences such as sinus infections, skin rashes, allergy formation, and even pneumonia. Therefore, to ensure your health and quality of rest, cleaning your CPAP is imperative. In addition to health ramifications, improperly cleaning your unit and equipment can cause your CPAP device to work ineffectively, and can even void the manufacturers warranty. Masks, tubing, and other CPAP supplies also can easily become degraded from lack of cleaning, leaving behind a musty smell along with molds and microbes; apart from being dangerous and irritating, replacing these components more frequently increases the amount of money spent on CPAP therapy. In order to get the most from your equipment and therapy, cleaning your CPAP accessories is a must do!
Cleaning CPAP equipment is not difficult, but can become a daunting task. Each day, the CPAP mask and tubing need to be cleaned in hot soapy water and air dried, while the rest of the CPAP machine (filter, machine exterior) should be wiped down; at the bare minimum, the accessories should be wiped down with an approved CPAP wipe. In addition, the humidity chamber and machine interior should be emptied daily and deep cleaned on a monthly basis.
As you can imagine, this process is time-consuming, and it is easy to fall behind on the regular cleaning of you supplies and machine. With busy schedules, work, family, and trying to make time for leisure, who has time to worry about cleaning CPAP parts daily? However, companies such as NuWave have made that solution easy and convenient; NuWave has simplified the task of thoroughly cleaning your CPAP machine a specialized cleaner known as the NuWave CPAP Sanitizer. The NuWave cleaner takes the guess work out of cleaning your unit, as it is guaranteed to kill 99.9% of microbes. The NuWave sanitization device is easy to use, efficient, light-weight for travel, and allows for the user to sanitize their components with ease! By simply pressing the button and allowing the NuWave cleaner to run, you no longer have to worry if you are properly sanitizing your equipment!
How does the NuWave Cleaner Work?
The NuWave CPAP cleaner utilizes ozone, known as activated oxygen, which allows complete sanitization of your CPAP gear with little effort. Ozone is a potent gas which kills harmful pathogens; ozone is effective at sanitizing and works by disrupting the cell wall and membrane of microbes. With depleted call walls and cell membrane, the pathogen can no longer replicate or live. This process allows complete sanitization of CPAP equipment, even getting into the hard to reach areas of equipment that may be missed with conventional cleaning. Ozone, since it is a gas, is able to permeate the tiniest of areas, ridding every crack and crevice of disease-causing bacteria, pathogens, and molds.
The NuWave CPAP sanitizer uses a large sanitization bag, which can easily fit all of your CPAP supplies and equipment such as the mask, tubing, humidity chamber, and additional gear; this sanitization bag is then securely zipped, and the bag is flooded with ozone, which kills 99.9% of germs and pathogens. The NuWave CPAP sanitizer has patent pending technology which ensures that ozone, which can cause health concerns and irritate airways, does not leak out of the chamber into your surroundings. This is accomplished by the use of not one, but two sanitizing chambers with a special flange that ensures the ozone stays inside the chamber. The NuWave CPAP cleaner flushes the sanitization bag out with oxygen after the cycle, therefore ridding the bag of excess ozone. After the cycle is completed, the user has the satisfaction of knowing that their CPAP accessories are ready for use and have been cleaned appropriately.
The best part of the NuWave CPAP sanitizer is that you can start the process and go on with your day; the sanitation itself takes 30 minutes, which is followed by an oxygen flush, and then an additional two hours ensuring any excess ozone converts back to safe oxygen. There is a small filter present which filters the ozone out of the bag, which is recommended to be changed every six months. The ozone filter is low cost and easy to replace making the maintenance of the NuWave cleaner simple (each filter costs around ten dollars). It is important to allow this cycle to fully run its course before opening the bag; opening the bag prematurely will cause the release of potentially harmful ozone into your home. Since it does take a few hours to clean and then dissipate the ozone, its a good idea to complete this process as a part of your morning routine. Then, when it is time to apply your CPAP at bed, your CPAP hardware will have completed the sanitizing process and you don’t have to delay your sleep. Although the NuWave is a potent and effective equipment sanitizer, you still want to make sure that you wipe away dust, dead skin cells, and any other debris from your equipment. Be sure to avoid using vinegar to clean your CPAP accessories if you are using the NuWave cleaner, or any sanitizer that utilizes ozone; doing so will cause a foul odor to form on your mask and other hardware owing to the fact that ozone can react adversely with vinegar and leave behind a smell. If you need to clean off your CPAP components, consider using a mild soap and hot water or even an approved CPAP wipe. Additionally, ensure that the water chamber is fully emptied and dried for optimal sanitization.
The NuWave Sanitizer is extremely user friendly, and simply has an on/off button to control the unit. Pressing the on button for 2 seconds powers the machine on and the cycle begins. When the sanitizing cycle has completed, the machine will power off on its own, taking taking away the worry of having to power down the NuWave sanitizer. It is important to remember not open the chamber early, ensuring that adequate time has passed for the ozone to be converted to breathable oxygen.
Traveling With CPAP and the NuWave Cleaner
Trying to travel with you CPAP can seem like a huge pain in the neck; the thought of having to haul a CPAP machine, CPAP supplies, a CPAP sanitization device, distilled water, and CPAP cleaning supplies is enough to make any sleep apnea sufferer leave their machine behind, or worse avoiding travel all together. Luckily, CPAP developers such as ResMed have come up with new, smaller, and travel-friendly machines in addition to your regular at home machine. Also, following suite, companies such as NuWave have also stepped up to the plate when it comes to travel-friendly CPAP cleaning devices!
Currently, there are more portable options such as the ResMed travel-friendly machine, the ResMed AirMini; this machine has the same desirable effects as a full size CPAP machine at a fraction of the size! The ResMed AirMini will take up barely any room in your luggage or carry-on, fitting in a travel case roughly the size of a makeup or toiletry bag! Additionally, the ResMed AirMini utilizes a waterless humidification system, and has a travel case along with travel-friendly supplies, making it easy to take on the go without adding additional bulk to your luggage! The ResMed myAir app is also a great travel resource, as it tracks your progress with your CPAP therapy, allows the user to access helpful resources, and also helps to troubleshoot common problems that can occur when you are on the go; all of these factors will help to ensure that your trip does not revolve around your need for CPAP therapy!
The NuWave CPAP cleaner also falls into the category of travel friendly! It is lightweight (0.45 pounds) and portable, making it simple to travel with. The NuWave CPAP sanitizer is small and can easily be packed for a trip, especially if paired with a travel-friendly CPAP model such as the ResMed AirMini machine. Another great feature is its long-lasting charge, which is good for 8-9 sanitization cycles before requiring a charge, making it suitable for off-grid adventures or areas with limited electrical outlets. When the battery is depleted, charging is a simplistic task; simply plug the NuWave machine into an outlet using the provided USB charger and cord until its fully charged. The entire charging process takes about 4 hours; if you use the NuWave three times weekly, you only have to recharge your machine about every two to three weeks! Also, you can operate your NuWave CPAP cleaner while plugged into a wall outlet.
Another great advantage is that you can purchase a smaller sanitization chamber when you travel, making more room in your luggage for other needed items! At CleanCPAP.net, when you purchase the NuWave CPAP Sanitizer, you receive both the large and the small sanitization chambers with your purchase; with both options, you will be travel ready with your CPAP, and not have to worry about wasting a minute of your time away cleaning masks and tubing!
So as you can see with travel-friendly models such as the ResMed AirMini and the NuWave CPAP cleaner, you can bring your needed CPAP essentials with you on the go, and without having the extra weight or bulk! You can easily carry the ResMed AirMini, the NuWave cleaner, and some CPAP wipes all in a small carry-on bag with your other must-have essentials!
Set Up Of Your NuWave Sanitizing Unit
Setup is easy, and in a few steps you will be ready for the sanitization of your CPAP equipment. When you first open your NuWave CPAP cleaner, you will want to charge it completely with the included USB power cord; the unit it fully charged when the green lights turns off on the unit. At this point, you are ready to clean and sanitize your CPAP accessories! The first step is to securely connect the 1 foot gas flow tubing to the NuWave ozone generator; this is then fastened to the grey fitting of the sanitization chamber. At this time, all of your CPAP components such as the mask, headgear, tubing, and water chamber can then be added to the bag, which is then sealed securely. To run the NuWave, simply press and hold the ON button for two seconds until a beep is heard, at which point the blue indicator will illuminate. The NuWave starts automatically at this point, and the sanitizing cycle will run over the next 35 minutes. The NuWave cleaner is ultra-quiet while it is sanitizing your CPAP gear, so much so that you may forget it is on! After finishing, the unit will turn off automatically, taking the worry out of having to power down the machine. The cycle can be stopped at any time by pressing and holding the power button for two seconds, at which time you will hear a two-second beep. After the cycle has completed the sanitation process, the unit will flush the bag with an air-cycle, ensuring that any excess ozone is converted to oxygen. The chamber should be left sealed for 2 hours post cleaning to ensure that the ozone has dissipated. After opening the bag, it is important to be aware of any possible leaked ozone in your surroundings; ozone has a slightly sweet smell to it and is often described as smelling like chlorine bleach or the smell in the air after a storm. The activated carbon filter in the bag works to rid your equipment of the ozone odor, however if this scent is present, ensure that you ventilate the area well. Ozone can cause airway irritation such as coughing, chest tightness, and wheezing as well as trigger lung inflammation, damage the lungs, and worsen previous respiratory diseases. This can all lead to airway narrowing, difficulty breathing, and can cause or worsen chronic respiratory problems such as asthma and COPD. If you are sensitive to ozone, or if you suffer from chronic respiratory diseases, you may want to consider alternate routes of sanitization of your CPAP equipment.
Final Considerations
No matter if you are new to CPAP therapy or have been using your trusty CPAP for years, it is never too late to impart healthy cleaning habits. Cleaning and thoroughly sanitizing your CPAP manually can become an arduous task, and even the most stringent cleaning schedule can still leave behind microbes and bacteria in hard to reach places. The NuWave sanitizing device is user friendly, easy to use, and ensures that your hardware is sanitized adequately. Also, it is light-weight, portable, and travel friendly, ensuring that no matter where you are, your CPAP gear will be sanitized and ready to ensure an amazing nights sleep. The long-lasting rechargeable battery allows for the cleaner to be used multiple times in a variety of settings, before requiring a recharge. CleanCPAP.net can help get you set up today with one of these time-saving, sanitization units by NuWave. The NuWave cleaner is HSA/FSA approved, and also available to pay in installments. In the CleanCPAP.net shop, the NuWave CPAP cleaner is selling for $219 on sale (usually $329), and you can save 10% off when you sign up for our newsletter! With all of these available options, the NuWave CPAP cleaner is affordable and there are a variety of financial options to make sure that anyone can afford this CPAP sanitizer! When it comes down to it, your health, sleep, and mental clarity is priceless, and the NuWave sanitizer helps to make sure you are safe when using your CPAP!