Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder where the upper airway becomes blocked during sleep. This happens repeatedly, and it causes airflow to slow or stop altogether. Sleep apnea can be a severe disorder because it can lead to other health problems. Those with sleep apnea can suffer from fatigue, excessive daytime sleepiness, and more. They also have a higher risk of developing heart problems and diabetes. The good news is that you can treat sleep apnea. Most often, the treatment recommended for this disorder is using a CPAP machine.
A CPAP machine works to regulate a person’s breathing by delivering pressurized air to them through a CPAP mask and tubing. This method can be very useful in treating sleep apnea and giving a person a good night’s rest. However, a CPAP machine requires regular cleaning and maintenance. A dirty CPAP machine can cause various health problems for the person using it. Learn more about the problems caused by a dirty CPAP machine and how to use a CPAP cleaning device to clean your machine below.
Dangers of a Dirty CPAP Machine
As stated above, it can be dangerous to use a dirty CPAP machine. Your CPAP machine is something that you use every night while you sleep, so it collects germs and bacteria easily. That means if you continue to use your CPAP machine without cleaning it regularly, you will be breathing in germs and bacteria while you sleep. There is also a danger of breathing in mold while you are using your CPAP machine because the humidifier is a warm, moist place where mold can grow. If you breathe in germs, bacteria, or mold, it can lead to health problems including:
- Airway Irritation
- Skin Irritation
- Sore Throat
- Sneezing
- Skin Irritation
- Respiratory Infection
As you can see, there is quite a list of health problems associated with a dirty CPAP machine. A dirty CPAP machine will also cause your CPAP equipment to stink, which means it is past due for a good cleaning. To prevent the illness and irritation caused by dirty CPAP equipment, all you have to do is clean your machine regularly. Learn more about how to clean your CPAP machine below.
How to Clean Your CPAP Machine
There are a few different ways to clean your CPAP machine. The first way is to use soap and water. This is an acceptable way to clean your CPAP machine, but you will want to be sure that you use a gentle and non-fragrant soap if you are cleaning this way. Another way to clean your CPAP machine is by using vinegar. Many people do this for their CPAP hose, but it is important to remember to dilute the vinegar with water and not to use any other products while you are doing this part.
Both of these cleaning options are good ones, but they can be time-consuming and challenging. You will also want to be sure you get your CPAP machine entirely dried out once you finish cleaning it. That can take a while! If you want a clean CPAP machine without all the work that hand washing takes, you should use a CPAP cleaning device like VirtuCLEAN. VirtuCLEAN will do all the work of cleaning your CPAP machine for you so that you don’t have to worry about it.
How does VirtuCLEAN work? VirtuCLEAN is a machine that cleans your CPAP equipment using ozone. This device effectively gets rid of 99.9% of germs and bacteria. All you have to do is attach the VirtuCLEAN device to your CPAP tubing, and put your CPAP mask in the VirtuCLEAN bag. Then, you turn the VirtuCLEAN CPAP cleaning device on, and in just thirty minutes it will thoroughly clean your CPAP. Once VirtuCLEAN finishes the cleaning cycle, it will turn itself off. That means you don’t have to worry about anything. You can use this CPAP cleaning device daily, and it will do all of the hard work in keeping your CPAP machine clean, and you won’t have to worry about getting sick from your CPAP equipment.
A CPAP machine can be great for your sleep apnea. This machine can ensure that you get the high-quality sleep that you deserve so that you do not experience the symptoms of sleep apnea. However, if your CPAP machine is dirty, that can make you sick. You will want to be sure to keep your CPAP machine clean with a device like VirtuCLEAN.