Ensuring Restful Nights: CPAP Machine Cleaning and Sanitizing to Manage Sleep Apnea
People with certain medical conditions like sleep apnea—especially when undiagnosed—have a harder time getting enough shut-eye each night.
In the recent report of CPAP.com, About 35% of all American adults report sleeping less than seven hours per night on average. In the United States, between 50 and 70 million adults suffer from a sleep problem, and 22 million of them are thought to have moderate to severe sleep apnea, making up around 18% of the adult population in the country. Globally, over 100 million people experience sleep apnea.
People who suffer from sleep apnea experience breathing problems while they are asleep. Breathing pauses or shallow breathing are one of its hallmarks, which can lead to snoring, frequent awakenings, and daytime lethargy.
If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause major health issues, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
In the course of the problem, there needs to be greater awareness and diagnosis for sleep apnea as well as promotion of effective treatments such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or popularly known as CPAP Therapy.
Obstructive sleep apnea is commonly treated with CPAP therapy, which uses a machine to continuously pressurize the airway while the patient sleeps. The device functions by applying positive pressure to the airway, acting as an "air splint" to keep the airway open and free of obstruction.
To use CPAP therapy, a patient often wears a mask or nasal cushions that are attached to the CPAP machine via a flexible tubing. Depending on the type of mask, the mask or nasal pillows fit over the nose, mouth, or both, and the machine continuously supplies air to the airway throughout the night.
However, the frequent use of CPAP systems makes them more prone to bacteria and harbor germs if not properly cleaned.
Dr. Lawrence Epstein, a specialist in sleep medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a Harvard affiliate said that "The mask rests on the face and comes into contact with skin-deep organisms. Overtime, bacteria and oils on a filthy mask may eventually cause you to develop a rash or a skin illness."
The risk of breathing in bugs from a dirty water reservoir in an air pump cannot also be averted. Dr. Epstein explains that if the standing water in the reservoir isn't cleaned regularly, there is the potential for bacteria or mold to grow, which can make you sick or increase problems related to conditions such as asthma, reactive airway disease, or other lung conditions.
If you are frequently getting sick or your CPAP smells moldy, it could be a sign that the device is not clean.
Good news is - A CPAP machine decreases the likelihood of getting sick when it is regularly cleaned. This means it can be a safe and a healthy addition to your sleep routine.
How do you clean it quickly, easily, and effectively?
Popular high-tech cleaners such as Vastmedic CPAP Cleaner and Sanitizer VM8 have hit the market as one of the recommended products to rely on.
Vastmedic CPAP Cleaner and Sanitizer VM8 is designed to hook up to your CPAP machine without taking anything apart. Simply drop your mask into the reservoir every morning and let the VM8 do the rest. By bedtime, your CPAP mask will be germ-free and ready for use.
With its easy-to-use 99.9% disinfecting sanitizing cleaner, the VM8 kills bacteria with the press of a button. The 1-click automatic cleaning cycle makes cleaning your CPAP machine effortless and hassle-free. No more tedious handwashing, no more wasting time.
In highlight, the VM8 uses both ozone and UV light to kill 99.9% of mold, bacteria, and viruses present on your CPAP equipment without using harsh chemicals, liquids, or water. Ozone is the sanitizing agent, and once it comes in contact with the air, it quickly dissipates. This makes the VM8 safe and effective for use with all PAP types, all brands, and even both heated or unheated tubing with the adapter included.
And that's not all - the VM8 is versatile and multifunctional. It can be used to sanitize a wide range of household and medical products such as dentures and toothbrushes, making it the perfect solution for anyone who wants a quick, easy, and effective way to clean their CPAP machine without the hassle of handwashing.
Keeping a clean CPAP machine is essential for users to reduce their chance of contracting viruses, bacteria, and mold that can compromise their health. Regular cleaning and sanitizing can also enhance the efficiency of the therapy and the air quality, which will lead to improved sleep and general wellness.
Prioritizing CPAP machine hygiene is crucial to extending the life of the device and all of its parts, which will ultimately save you money and hassle. Users of CPAP therapy can experience the advantages of cleaner air and better health by adhering to correct cleaning practices and using dependable cleaning solutions like the Vastmedic CPAP cleaner and sanitizer VM8.
References:
https://www.cpap.com/blog/sleep-apnea-statistics/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-your-cpap-make-you-sick-2019100818005
