Doctors routinely administer continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to patients who suffer from sleep apnea. A CPAP humidifier is a device that adds moisture to the air you breathe through your CPAP machine by releasing moisture from a small tank of distilled water. This can help you feel more at peace when using CPAP. When using CPAP therapy, humidifiers are utilized to supply moisture to the air.
What is a Heated Tube Humidifier?
The CPAP machine often includes a detachable heated humidifier with a tank that requires filling with distilled water. A hot plate below the chamber heats the water and humidifies some of it. When air pressure passes through, moistened air passes through your airway, nose, throat, and lungs. Users of CPAP machines can opt for heated or non-heated humidifiers. The majority of available humidifiers on the market are now heated.
Is a Heated Humidifier necessary?
You might want to ask whether using a heated humidifier with your CPAP machine is necessary. There’s no hard and fast rule that it’s a must-have accessory for CPAP users. However, for many sleep apnea patients, it makes using CPAP equipment more pleasant. And that extra level of comfort can matter more than you think, especially when it comes to sticking to your continuous positive airway pressure therapy.
It’s easy to see how heated humidification for CPAP devices came to be. When utilizing their CPAP machines, several patients getting CPAP therapy reported one or more of the following issues:
- Dry, scratchy throat
- Dry Nasal Passage
- Congestion
- Nasal Stuffiness
- Nosebleeds
- Dry mouth
Dry air
aggravates these symptoms of CPAP therapy by irritating the nasal passages, causing them to expand and become irritated. You can relieve congestion by using a heated humidifier to provide moist, warm air into your nasal passages.
However, it’s not simply the dryness of the air that can cause issues. The majority of individuals prefer to sleep in rooms that are cooler. When the airflow via the mask is cool and dry, it can aggravate the discomfort and cause other issues such as sore throats, dry mouths, and other issues.
Many CPAP users prefer heated humidification to cool humidification. It not only adds moisture to the air inside the CPAP mask, but it also raises the temperature, allowing users to have a more comfortable sleep.
Using heated humidification with your CPAP machine has an unanticipated benefit. It aids in the reduction of a condition known as “rainout.” Rainout is the unexpected splash of water that occurs when condensation forms inside the mask and drips into the mask wearer’s nose or mouth. Heated tubing helps to keep the inside of the mask at a constant temperature, lowering the chances of rainout.
Should heat humidifiers be mandatory?
It is possible to use a CPAP machine without a humidifier or a water chamber. The machine will continue to blow dry air into your mask. If you live in a humid area, a humidifier might not be necessary. Those who have been using CPAP therapy for a long period may have become accustomed to it and no longer require the use of a humidifier. However, the humidifier may help those who are new to CPAP therapy avoid dryness.
Disclaimer
The information provided is for general knowledge only. Consult your doctor for personalized advice and treatment. Medikart HealthCare is not liable for any actions taken based on this info.