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CPAP masks that fit your lifestyle
wp:paragraph So you’re just been diagnosed with sleep apnea and you’ve been told that using a CPAP machine will be essential for your treatment. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph Needless to say, you’re probably feeling a little overwhelmed, and uneasy about these changes in your life that you are about to make. That is completely understandable, who wouldn’t be? Probably what may freak you out the most is the idea of having to wear a big mask over your face all night, and having your partner never look at you the same way again. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph However, what is important to remember, is that the positive aspects of a CPAP machine outweigh the negative aspects by far. Imagine how nice it would be to wake up feeling refreshed, and to spend your day being productive, as opposed to only thinking about hitting the pillow at the end of the day. /wp:paragraph wp:paragraph Since you will be face-to-face (literally) with the CPAP mask, it is important to find the one that you feel the most comfortable with. There are three different types of CPAP masks that are sold on the Pap Smart website: /wp:paragraph wp:list Nasal masks: these masks only cover your nose, but have straps around the sides to keep it in place (great for people who move around a lot in their sleep!) There is a soft piece around the mask to help keep it sealed. Full face masks: these masks cover most of your face (mouth and nose) also held in place with side straps. This is a good choice for people who are “mouth-breathers” and have difficulty breathing through their just their nose, especially as you are sleeping. Nasal pillow masks have a cushion that goes under your nose like a “pillow”. As opposed to the larger masks that cover your face, these masks just have side straps that keep the mask in place. This is a good choice for people who may feel claustrophobic with a full face mask or who prefer a full field or vision for reading or watching TV. /wp:list wp:paragraph Visit our website at papsmart.com and find the mask that is right for you. /wp:paragraph
Learn moreHistory of CPAP
Can you believe that the CPAP machine is 34 years old? When you look at the original, it’s probably hard to believe that technology has come such a long way. Let’s go all the way back to 1970. Around that time, sleep was not as commonly studied medically as it is today, despite being one of the most important human functions. What we know today as sleep apnea, was known at the time as Pickwickian syndrome (named after a character from Charles Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers who is obese and tends to fall asleep standing up). The only known symptoms for that condition at that time was snoring, and chocking and gasping in your sleep. This was all a big mystery in the medical profession, and not much was known about it. If you had sleep apnea at this period of time, your only hope was for a tracheotomy. In other words, doctors would cut a hole in your trachea and insert a breathing tube to help you sleep better at night. Sounds painful, right? This would all soon change, thanks to an Australian doctor named Colin Sullivan. He had spent many years studying sleep medicine in depth and essentially, changing the way that we look at sleep problems. In 1980, he invented a machine that would end up saving many lives from sleep apnea. This was called the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine (or CPAP for short). It is a machine and mask that is worn by people with sleep apnea to help them breathe at night. He invented it by connecting a number of different hoses to a vacuum cleaner and glued it to the snout of a dog. When he saw his first human patient, a construction worker with severe OSA, the results of the mask spoke for itself as the man said he hadn’t felt so well rested in ages. Although it took some time to be accepted in the medical market, the CPAP machine has come a long way, and still continues to save the lives of many people who suffer from sleep apnea. If you are a proud user of this device, you have an Aussie doctor and a vacuum cleaner to thank. Shop at Papsmart.com - The #1 Online CPAP Store. http://www.resmed.com/ch/assets/documents/resmedica/resmedica14.pdf http://www.cpap.com/blog/the-history-of-cpap-therapy/ http://www.easybreathe.com/blog/cpap-history-aussie-doctor-vacuum-cleaner/ Image source: http://www.wikihow.com/Perform-a-Tracheotomy
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