Is It Okay To Use CPAP If You’re Having a Cold?

Are you suffering from cold or flu-like symptoms and wondering whether you still want to continue using the CPAP machine? Well, here are the ways you can use aCPAP machine with slight modifications when suffering from a cold.

CPAP relieves cold symptoms

When you have a cold and the nose is congested, using the CPAP mask and the machine is the last thing you want to do. But when done right, sleep apnea treatment can help boost the immune system and can also help you find relief from the cold and the related symptoms. It can help restore your breathing by clearing your blocked nose. Moreover, the warm and humidified air from the machine can provide you with direct relief from the cold. You need to understand a few points that can help maximize the potential of the CPAP masks treatment and can even provide relief from the flu symptoms.

Use the Humidifier

The latest nasal pillow masks and machines today are enabled to add humidity and warmth to the pressurized air while breathing. If you are still using an old device, then it is worth getting your machine upgraded to an advanced model. The new machines are equipped to provide better comfort and warmth while breathing, especially during the colder months of the year. This will help you breathe warm air during winter and find better relief from the cold and blocked nose.

The pressurised air, along with humidity and warmth, can effectively loosen up the congestion in your nose and allow you to breathe better. But for this, you need to add distilled water every night into the humidifier before using the machine for the night.

Use positional therapy

If you sleep on your back during the night, then CPAP treatment is ideal for you. However, this sleeping position may not be perfect for a good sleep when you feel sick or have a blocked nose. Sleeping on the back tends to increase the stiffness in the nose and may lead to post-nasal drip. The best way of sleeping in this situation is to flip onto the side. This will avoid the build-up of stuffiness in the nose and allow you to breathe better with the help of the CPAP machine. You just need to make sure you use a pillow of the right size to keep your head as well as your neck aligned with the spine to avoid waking up with a stiff neck the next day.

You can take the help of the Contour CPAP pillow that will provide proper support to your head and your neck while sleeping on your sides.

Use Full face mask

The full face mask can prove effective on patients with heavy nasal congestion that cannot conclusively unblock the nostrils with the nasal mask. The full facesleep apnea mask allows such patients to undergo effective CPAP treatment through their mouth. You will receive warm and humidified air in your lungs, and it may also help you find some relief from the congestion. More importantly, the full face mask can help you get some good sleep at night without worrying about the leakage or the placement of the mask.

If you have sinus symptoms, cold or allergies, and breathing from the nose is not possible, you can still take your CPAP treatment with the help of the entire face nasal mask.

Auto pressure or pressure change

When you are down with a cold and your nasal channels are obstructed, you may need additional air pressure for the CPAP therapy. Therefore, consider the suggestions of your physician on the right air pressure required for the auto CPAP machine when using it during a cold.

It is best to use the Bi-PAP machine for your sleep apnea therapy. This auto CPAP machinehas two-way pressure settings, which adjust the air pressure when inhaling and exhaling. Plus, it has dual pressure settings that can be used by patients even when they have a cold.

SoIf you are looking fornasal masks online, MYCPAP is the best option for you as it has the perfect range of CPAP Machines, Masks & Accessories Online.