If you have been recently diagnosed with sleep apnea, you are probably just learning more about CPAP machines. What is a CPAP machine? CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. A CPAP machine is the standard treatment for a person with sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when your airway becomes blocked during sleep. This means your airflow will slow or completely stop for short periods of time. This becomes a problem because it interrupts your sleep. Sleep apnea can cause you to have daytime fatigue and sleep-deprived patterns. However, it can also cause more severe conditions such as heart attack, diabetes, glaucoma, and more.

What Makes Up a CPAP Machine

To treat sleep apnea, people use a CPAP machine. This machine is made up of different parts, but it works to optimize your airflow to be sure you are getting the oxygen you need and to make sure you can sleep through the night. A CPAP machine is a box that brings in air from the room and pressurizes it to meet your needs. Let us take a closer look at the parts that make up your CPAP machine, and how they help you function better.

  • Humidifier – The humidifier is an essential part of your CPAP machine. The humidifier warms the water to humidify the pressurized air before you breathe it in. The reason this is important is that warm air will be better for your nasal and airway passages. Warm air will help prevent irritation that could happen while using your CPAP machine.
  • Mask – The mask on your CPAP machine is critical. This is what helps you get the pressurized air you need. However, to do this, your mask needs to fit correctly. You will go through a process to get it fitted to you, so your mask does not leak air. Your mask will also come with cushioning and headgear to help hold it in place. You will probably want replacement cushions because those will wear out eventually.
  • Hose – The hose of your CPAP machine connects the box to the mask. This hose is made up of flexible and lightweight tubing. It is also generally pretty long (around 6 feet), so you can move around during sleep and not have a problem.
  • Filters – The filters on your CPAP machine help make sure you are breathing in clean and safe air. Your CPAP machine has one filter that is in the air intake. This filter removes dust and particulates that are in your air, so you get clean air to breathe in. There is also a second filter that was built to catch any debris that gets past the first filter. These filters are essential to the success of your CPAP machine because they help give you safe air to breathe.

A CPAP machine has a few different parts that function together to make it work. Your CPAP machine will do the same, helping you combat your sleep apnea. It is important to know how your CPAP machine functions, so you know if it is not functioning correctly. It is also important to remember to clean your CPAP machine, so it can continue to work its best for you.

Using a CPAP Cleaner on Your CPAP Machine

It is very important to keep your CPAP machine clean. Think about how you wear your CPAP machine every night, and it filters air and brings it to you. You do not want a machine that you are breathing through every night to be dirty. A dirty CPAP machine can make you sick. A dirty CPAP machine can cause problems such a lung irritation, a runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat, skin irritation, and more. To avoid those symptoms, you want to be sure to keep your CPAP machine clean.

You can keep your machine clean using a CPAP cleaner like VirtuCLEAN. The VirtuCLEAN CPAP Cleaner is an excellent option because it is lightweight, easy to use, and it kills 99% of germs and bacteria. The VirtuCLEAN is just a 4.6 by 2.5 inches, and it is only half a pound. It has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that will help you get your CPAP machine clean in just 30 minutes.

How does VirtuCLEAN work? All you have to do is connect your CPAP machine to the VirtuCLEAN device, place your mask in the VirtuCLEAN bag, and turn on the machine. The VirtuCLEAN CPAP Cleaner will do the rest. VirtuCLEAN gets rid of 99% of germs and bacteria by cleaning your CPAP machine with ozone. This process will only take 30 minutes; then your CPAP cleaner will automatically turn itself off.

Using a CPAP Cleaner will ensure that your CPAP device remains clean for your use. You will not have to worry about the adverse side effects that come from a dirty CPAP machine. Remember to pick up a CPAP Cleaner soon!