So far we have looked at what Sleep Apnea is and how you can treat it effectively with a CPAP therapy. Now that you know how to look for a CPAP machine, you may also have one. But how do you maintain a breathing device to be able to use it for a long time? Cleaning is an important part of the CPAP therapy. A lot of CPAP users often undergo therapy and often forget this very important step. Fitting the CPAP machine is hard enough. Why would anyone want to spent extra time cleaning the CPAP machine? It is a lot of hassle!
Why Clean?
All of this is true! However, it is an incredibly important part of the therapy that has to be followed consistently. CPAP therapy is used as a treatment for OSA. So, the use of the equipment shouldn’t lead to other issues that could potentially come through the equipment, if adequate care is not taken by the user. CPAP machines are also expensive. There are various reasons why your breathing machines need to be cleaned thoroughly everyday.
- Oils – Oils and sweat of the user loads up the masks and tubes over time that users may not realise.
- Dead Skin – Dead skin accumulates over time during use.
- Dust – Daily accumulation of dust occurs on top of the oil.
- Viruses, Molds, Bacteria & Fungi – As if this were not enough, all of the dirt are accompanied by bacteria, viruses, mold and fungi. Due to the heat and moisture involved, tubing and hoses of the CPAP equipment can be great breeding grounds for bacteria and fungus.
Could it get any more nastier?
If you have allergies, asthma or other breathing troubles or if you are someone who has the flu regularly, then it’s time to rethink the way you maintain your breathing therapy machines.
The mechanism of the many nasal masks relies on a seal which helps you fix the mask on the face. This seal when fixed on the face prevents any air from escaping and helps retain the pressure of the air-flow inside. So as you can see, this seal is very important for a CPAP masks and can become faulty if there is grime present on it. Therefore, it is very important to preserve the seal by keeping the mask clean at all times.
When?
The recommended schedule of cleaning is daily. Sounds hard? It is. However, to prevents all of the above nasty issues and to maintain the hygiene of your machine it is best to follow this schedule. Daily, a half an hour should be dedicated to scrubbing and cleaning the equipment and this should be followed with discipline in order not to face difficulties with the machine.
How?
Cleaning instructions are usually given in the manual with the equipment. For easy reference, here are some basic cleaning tips:
- With a damp towel, wipe down the whole machine till it is clean. The towel should not be too wet as water could get into the machine.
- The best way to wash the mask is by using warm & soapy water. After wash, it can be dried out naturally.
- In case you miss the daily schedule, don’t forget to miss out the weekly schedule. Take the mask, tubing and headgear into the shower once in a week, to give it a rinse with a mild dish soap. After rinse let it hang either outside or in a dry place in the house so that it dries out well.
- Check the filters once a month. If you live in a dusty environment, this should be done without fail.
- Don’t let any extra water from the previous night to sit in the humidifier as this water can get contaminated by bacteria and the surrounding area will be a good environment for fungus.
- The humidifier chamber should be cleaned out every day by giving it a good rinse. Using distilled water will ensure that it is kept clean from mineral deposits.
- If you’ve caught a viral or bacterial flu, you should ensure that your equipment is clean before your use every night. A rigorous & disciplined cleaning schedule should be followed till the flu is gone.
- Don’t use harsh chemicals or products containing perfume to clean the device and tubing as this may cause irritation or allergies.
If all of these steps are followed consistently, you can prolong the life of your CPAP device and its accessories. It can also prevent you from getting sick from a device that is designed to make you breathe better.