CPAP Side Effects

Side Effects of CPAP Therapy

Newer models are lighter and quieter, and many offer options such as warmed humidified air (which alleviates nasal congestion, skin dryness, and dry mouth) and a timer that slowly builds up pressure to give you time to adapt and fall asleep more easily.

There are also a variety of mask styles, allowing users to find the one that best fits their face and is most comfortable.

However, even with the new technology, people still have CPAP side effects. These problems can be prevented if the CPAP user educate himself with the side effects that may appear.

List of The Most Common CPAP Side Effects:

• CPAP esophagus side effects,
• CPAP gas problems - Why does my CPAP gives me gas?
• Nasal CPAP side effects - sinus infection and congestion,
• CPAP nasal congestion side effects,
• CPAP side effects of high air pressure,
• Dry mouth with CPAP,
• Pulling off the CPAP mask while sleeping,
• CPAP mask uncomfortable,
• CPAP machine noise.

CPAP Machine Side Effects:

CPAP Esophagus Side Effects - Nausea, Vomiting, Acid Reflux

Some patients have feelings of sickness after the use of CPAP, such as nausea, vomiting food or acid from their stomach.

These CPAP side effects can be caused by GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), where the band of muscles at the end of your esophagus doesn't close properly, allowing the stomach contents to leak into your throat or mouth.

CPAP can exacerbate GERD, mainly because of a high continuous air pressure delivered from the machine.

If the CPAP air comes with enough high pressure and is swallowed into esophagus, the muscular valve of the esophagus can be opened allowing the air to enter the stomach (aerophagia) or the stomach liquid to exit back where it came from.

That's why many people don't know they have GERD until they use the CPAP.

Treating GERD will help prevent swallowing the air into your stomach, or having nausea and vomiting. You will be able to better tolerate your CPAP machine.

Solution: You can prevent the feelings of being sick from CPAP, by using these methods:

• Raise the head of your bead with 4 inches or more, or use more pillows to elevate your head and upper body when you sleep.

  A sleep wedge special designed for relieving acid reflux can also be very helpful.

• Eat light suppers and do not eat for several hours before bedtime.
• Are you using a CPAP full face mask? You can swallow a lot of air using the full face mask. Using a nasal mask or nasal pillows can help taking the air into your lungs and not into your stomach.
• if you have a high CPAP pressure, you could try to reduce the pressure for a while and then gradually build back to your titrated pressure. Speak with your sleep doctor first.
• switch to a BiPAP machine instead of using the CPAP.

If you experience these CPAP side effects, speak with your sleep doctor, DME provider and your respiratory therapist.

CPAP Gas Bloating Side Effects - Why does my CPAP gives me gas?

This problem usually goes away. However, some patients can't escape this uncomfortable feeling because they probably have other conditions that cause air swallowing. GERD (Acid Reflux) or pulmonary issues can cause you to have difficulty exhaling agains your pressure.

Solution:

• Treating GERD or using a BiPAP machine instead of CPAP can be helpful to eliminate aerophagia.
• Make sure you are not leaking through your mouth, because if excess air gets into your mouth, there is a tendency to swallow it.
• Use a nasal mask or nasal pillows, and try to sleep with your mouth closed.
• Try teaching yourself to fall asleep with your tongue touching the back of your front teeth and the roof of your mouth. When the tongue is in this placement, it helps keeping the CPAP air inside the upper airway and preventing to swallow the air.
• Gas-X can alleviate the symptoms of aerophagia. Take 1 tablet (or 2 tablets if your doctor allows it) in the morning, and 1 before going to bed.

  Many CPAP users found aerophagia relief with this medication.

Nasal CPAP Side Effects:

• CPAP sinus infection - CPAPs do not usually cause sinus infections and most of the time it's just a coincidence, although using the CPAP may be aggravating them.

  That's why is important to call your primary care physician to investigate your sinuses and check for allergies to the mask's silicone.

• CPAP mucus congestion - the nasal congestion is usually caused by allergic reaction from the silicone which is what the CPAP nasal pillows and most other masks are made from.

  Other cause for CPAP nasal congestion can be the humidifier settings: both too much and too little humidity can cause problems with congestion.

Solution:

• Some CPAP users find relief when they have the humidifier set low, other when they have it high. Some people even do better without humidification. So try adjusting the humidity setting both lower and higher, until you find the sweet spot.
• If you use nasal pillows and have nasal congestion or sinus infection, you might want to try different types of nasal masks or full face masks. The nasal pillows provide the most direct air pressure into your nose and sinuses than the full face mask.

  For sinus infections, you need to wear a full face mask while the infection is going on. Sleeping without CPAP when you have sinus problems is not recommended.

• Use the Ayr gel in your nose - It will help with the irritation until the nares toughen up.
• One of the best solution to improve the comfort of nasal therapy is to use Sleep Weaver Mask Cloth instead of nasal pillows. This mask is all cloth, and may work well if you have allergies and sore nose from nasal mask or nasal pillows. It's also helpful if you have a weird shape nose that doesn't work with other CPAP masks.

  The Sleep Weaver is also the easiest mask to keep clean and you don't have to take it apart and reassemble. Here is a video which explains more about this mask:

Nasal and Throat Congestion

One of the most common CPAP side effects is dryness of nose or nasal congestion. This problem can be a temporary response of your body as it get used with the CPAP.

You may feel like your throat is worn out from CPAP pressure and you will be frustrated.

In normal conditions, your nose is your natural humidifier of the air which you breathe. But if CPAP begins to dry your nose, your body will produce more mucus in the nose to add moisture to the inhaled air.

That's why you can have a nasal congestion.

Learn from the upper tips about Nasal CPAP Side Effects and don't give up your treatment! There are on the market humidifiers which can be attached to your CPAP and make your sleep better.

Maybe you want to try other techniques to cure sleep apnea, without CPAP, but I insist you should find a way to get used to your breathing machine. The first weeks are critical for a successful CPAP treatment.

CPAP Side Effects of Air Pressure

Why do my lungs hurt after using my cpap?

Some CPAP users have chest muscle or lung pain when they start the CPAP therapy. The main cause is that these muscles have to work harder in order to breathe against a constant air pressure.

However, chest pain is a complain in people with heart problems. You will need your doctor to check if your chest muscles are sore and not something more serious.

The doctor may use a Spirometer to see if you get pain when blowing in at different pressures. In this way you will find if the air pressure affects your lungs.

Furthermore, a chest X-Ray will be useful to check if you have a foreign object inside your chest.

CPAP Dry Mouth

What should you do?

Talk with your sleep specialist to investigate the problem. You may have a sinus infection.

Pulling Off the CPAP Mask

CPAP Mask Uncomfortable

The pressure of the mask on your face may be uncomfortable enough that you will be unable to sleep.

So...when you choose a CPAP mask, try it on, to see if the mask does fit properly.

CPAP Machine Noise

The noise of the CPAP can't be tolerated by some people.

The newer CPAPs are so quiet that noise is rarely an issue. But if the noise is a problem for your bed partner, then you can use an extra length of tubing to move the CPAP machine further away from the bed.

Another solution for your partner is to use earplugs which in this day are quite comfortable.

Bottom line... Should you Stop using the CPAP?

Ok, you will think that there are important reasons to stop using your treatment. But you must remember that you should not discontinue the use of CPAP.

There is no issue that cannot be worked out especially with the advanced technology of today. Solve the problem, continue your therapy and get on with your life.

However, if everything fails, then I think you have nothing to lose if you try this step-by-step guide to cure sleep apnea without CPAP.

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