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Adjusting to CPAP can make your sleep- and life- better, especially if you have severe sleep apnea. Read on to get sleep specialists’ top five tips on how you can make peace with your CPAP.

Focus on the Health Benefits of CPAP

"Your body is in this constant struggle at night between breathing and sleeping," says Collop, who directs the Emory University School of Medicine sleep center. "Fortunately, breathing wins, but it wins at the expense of your sleep."

This causes daytime sleepiness, which can make it difficult to function at work and elsewhere. Lost sleep can also have an adverse effect on aging, diabetes, and blood pressure.

The majority of CPAP users report immediate symptom relief, according to the National Sleep Foundation. They also report increased energy and better mental alertness during the day.

"Very few people like CPAP, but they love the outcome," Kryger tells WebMD. Kryger says that using CPAP improves heart rhythms in some people. (Abnormal heart rhythms can increase the risk of stroke.) CPAP use may also reduce high blood pressure, at least a little.

Consider CPAP a Gift to your Bed Partner

Often, the bed partner of someone with obstructive sleep apnea has a sleep problem too- brought on by the constant awakenings and snoring of the person with apnea. The interruptions can be bad enough to drive the partner from the bedroom altogether, some research suggests.

CPAP treatment will likely improve their lives and the lives of those they love.

Learn all you can About CPAP

It's not enough for you to be handed a mask, machine, and instruction book, Kryger says. Ideally, a representative from the company providing the device should deliver it and demonstrate it.

You should learn what pressure is recommended for you and other basic facts about the machine. The representative should also be able to answer any questions you have or to get answers for you.

Customize the System for You

CPAP machines are not one-size-fits-all. These tips can help you ensure your device is the right one for you:

-Get a CPAP mask that fits well. People often say they’ve given up on their device because it’s uncomfortable. However, that can typically be remedied by getting a different mask or other measures, according to sleep specialists. There are a wide variety of masks available.

- Upgrade your machine. If your CPAP machine seems outdated, try to upgrade. Typically, the devices are covered by insurance.

- Talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor about any symptoms you experience. If symptoms such as snoring that initially went away on CPAP start reappearing while using the device, get reevaluated, Kryger says. In about half of CPAP users, other side effects can occur- such as nasal congestion, dry mouth, or skin irritation.

Stick With It

"It's not a cure," Collop tells her patients. "It's just a treatment. It only works if you wear it."

What's the harm if people miss a night or two- say, if they’re on the road? "Whenever you sleep without it, you still have sleep apnea," she says. "If they miss a night or two, life will go on, but they will notice a difference."

If you make the effort to adjust to the CPAP device and wear it regularly, however, the payoff is big: "CPAP works for almost everybody," Collop says.



Doheny, Kathleen. (2011, January 7). 5 Ways to Live With Your CPAP Machine. WebMD. Retrieved February 15, 2014 from http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/features/cpap-machine.