Choose a Best CPAP Machine

If you’ve received a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)—which causes numerous brief pauses in breathing as you sleep—your doctor has probably recommended continuous positive airway pressure. Not tested yet? A home sleep study can be done in your own bed before you choose a machine.

CPAP machine can significantly cut the number of nighttime breathing pauses you experience—but only if you wear the device.

How CPAP machine Works

There are currently approximately 5.9 million OSA diagnoses, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. In those with the disorder, neck and throat muscles relax during sleep, causing the soft tissue at the back of the throat to collapse and block air from reaching the airway. That causes a series of partial or complete pauses in breathing, sometimes hundreds of them each night.

CPAP—which sends enough air into the upper airway to prop it open—has been the cornerstone of therapy for moderate to severe OSA since the 1980s.

The prescription treatment has been shown to improve sleep quality, reduce daytime sleepiness, help normalize blood pressure, and ease other related health risks.

Finding a CPAP mask that is comfortable enough to allow you to slumber is essential. (You’ll also consider factors like the severity of your OSA and the air pressure setting your doctor has recommended to keep your airways open during sleep.)

If you find that the mask that felt right during your fitting is uncomfortable after a few nights, or that it’s difficult to adjust, contact your sleep medicine doctor or the medical equipment provider. You may need advice on adjusting or a different style of mask.