Cpap Mask Selection Guide: How To Choose A Cpap Mask

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A CPAP mask is a peripheral for your sleep apnea machine that is worn over your airway, and secured with headgear. A CPAP mask receives air by way of a CPAP tube that connects to the CPAP machine. The CPAP machine then delivers that air by way of constant positive airway pressure (hence the acronym CPAP) directly to your airway as you sleep. There is a wide array of CPAP masks to suit nearly every preference. They range from large, well secured masks that cover the entire face for sound sleepers who constantly switch positions, to a nasal prong type CPAP mask which has a minimal design, and better suited to patients who sleep on their back.

How does one choose a CPAP mask that best suits their needs? Firstly, there are a number of reputable CPAP equipment providers with strong product knowledge and a wealth of expertise that are able to help select the appropriate CPAP mask for a person’s needs. Secondly, doing your own research through reading reviews, checking customer ratings, and doing any applicable follow-through with your doctor is, as always, highly suggested. Most importantly, a CPAP mask ...
... needs to be comfortable; otherwise, the risk of falling into the non-compliance pattern is high. A poorly fitting CPAP mask is one of the primary reasons people tend to get frustrated with their CPAP therapy.

The question of CPAP mask type should be a discussion between you and your doctor or CPAP equipment provider. They will be able to provide suggestions and options. However, making the best CPAP mask selection is as much a matter of personal preference as it is one of appropriately suiting your facial structure and sleep style. It’s important to spend plenty of time making this decision, since it is part of a medical device that is designed to improve your quality of life. There are a variety of important considerations when trying to make your CPAP mask selection: know the pressure setting on the CPAP machine as it could limit mask choice. Patients who have been prescribed a pressure setting of fourteen or greater typically experience less comfort with the nasal pillows variety of CPAP masks. Higher pressure settings are felt as less obtrusive with the full face line of masks. Other points to consider are: whether or not you breathe through your mouth during sleep and how frequently you change positions through the course of the evening. Finally, a person’s facial structure is unique but CPAP masks are not custom made. It is important to try as many mask as possible to determine which is the most comfortable for your particular face.

Being new to CPAP therapy requires changes to daily habits and routines. With some knowledge and a willingness to adjust to change, CPAP therapy could provide significant positive changes to the quality of a person’s life.

Kris Leeds is a freelance writer for The CPAP Shop, one of the leading online providers of CPAP masks and CPAP machines. Please visit The CPAP Shop website to learn more about their products and brands.