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Sleep apnea is a sleep condition that can cause extreme symptoms in people. It may cause irregular breathing, shortness of breath, and sleep disruption. It is vital to solving this problem to sleep well and wake up fresh in the morning.
CPAP devices and masks will quickly help you get a restful sleep by supplying continuous air pressure to ensure that the respiratory organs do not fail. Also, they make sure you have enough oxygen at night.
If you are a CPAP patient and find an unexpected adjustment in your CPAP therapy, you may need to be aware of its source. There may be multiple fundamental explanations for this, such as old masks, inadequate pressure settings, etc. The most frequent of them, though, is a mask leak.
So, let’s talk about them in detail, what they are, their reasons, their drawbacks, and how to avoid CPAP masks from leaking.
What are CPAP Mask Leaks?
If you’re worried about what a CPAP mask leak is, don’t worry, you can prevent it quickly. As the name suggests, a mask leak is a form of air pressure leak due to mask inefficiency. This leakage is due to several underlying causes and has a significant impact on CPAP care.
Due to such leaks, your well-being is harmed despite investing your funds in expensive CPAP equipment.
In comparison, inadequate CPAP therapy causes more harm than good in the long term. It is essential to take care of this problem and bring about an improvement.
Causes of CPAP Mask Leak
It is essential to know the source of your CPAP mask, and only then can you find the right cure for it. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the primary sources of CPAP mask leakage.
- Ill-Fitting Mask
One of the most common causes of CPAP mask leakage is an inappropriate mask. If your mask doesn’t suit your mouth and nose correctly, the air will escape from the open room, allowing the mask to leak.
Similarly, if you do not change your CPAP headgear correctly, imagine that the elastic bands are too relaxed. It will cause the air to escape and affect your CPAP care efficiency. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the mask suits properly, that the mask is not too loose for air to escape, and that it is not too close to creating irritation.
- Extremely Old Masks
If you learn about CPAP machines and masks, you will also know that you need to change your mask every six months. Failure to do so will cause a lot of issues, including mask leaks. An outdated old mask may have several problems.
Next, the tight sealing that stops the mask from leakage loses its power and reliability. Headgear elastics can also lose their elasticity. Again, the silicone material may grow small holes and cracks that form a route to the air.
- Dirty Masks
It’s crucial to clean your CPAP masks daily. One of the key reasons for this is that the dirt and oil deposits from your skin will collect in your mask and damage its cushioning and sealing properties.
Accumulating dead skin cells and dust particles may also induce other diseases that can delay the therapy with CPAP. However, CPAP cleaning wipes are particularly useful for penetrating through those areas of the mask where CPAP cleaning machines cannot clean.
- Constantly Moving
If you have a history of tossing and repeatedly turning at night, you might have had mask leaks. Constantly shifting in sleep will cause the mask to turn sideways, allowing the air to escape.
These are the fundamental causes that cause CPAP mask leakage and decrease the overall effectiveness of your medication.
Let’s talk about how you can combat these problems effectively.
- Find the Right Mask
Finding the right design and size of the mask is critical for your CPAP treatment. As described above, an incorrect mask will allow the air to escape and cause the mask to leak. So, to fix this issue, try adjusting the CPAP mask that suits your nose and mouth like a glove. Choosing the right kind of mask is also important.
For example, if you are a mouth breather, consider using masks specially tailored for you. Similarly, whether you’re a side sleeper or you prefer to change a lot during sleep, go for masks that have a tight and safe grip.
You can also find three types of masks available, such as nasal masks, full face masks, and hybrid masks. You should check out our other guide and find out more about these masks and whether they’re right for you.
- Sanitize and Clean Your Mask
If you take the sanitation of your mask for granted, you ought to start thinking about it. A dirty, unhygienic mask is a stockpile of diseases and allergies. Besides, the accumulating dirt decreases the effectiveness of the sealing.
But now, what are you going to do with it? Yeah, there are two ways to get to this. The first approach is to scrub your mask with water and other household items, such as lemon, to make your mask disinfect and sanitized.
The second option is to purchase CPAP sanitizers and cleaning products that will disinfect your CPAP mask in less than five minutes! CPAP cleaners such as Lumin and SoClean use UV technology and activated oxygen approaches to extract dirt particles from the mask.
Fixing Your CPAP Mask Leak
These cleaners are very versatile in operating, time control, and spaciousness to fit into your CPAP appliances. If you are in doubt about your CPAP masks, call our Coral Springs, Florida offices at (855) 275-8951 for more information or visit our website at www. best CPAP cleaner.com.
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