Are you suffering from a sleep apnea problem? Don’t lose sleep over it and turn to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines. These are essential medical devices for the treatment of sleep apnea, a condition characterised by repeated pauses in breathing while sleeping. The best treatment of sleep apnea is through CPAP machines which may enhance cognition, lower high blood pressure, and minimise the risk of stroke in addition to improving sleep quality.
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What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous sleep disorder in which breathing stops and begins regularly. These pauses may range from a few seconds to several minutes and happen several times through the course of the night. You may have sleep apnea if you snore loudly and still feel exhausted after a full night’s sleep. The two basic forms of sleep apnea are:
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): It is the most prevalent type of the condition. It happens when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much, either completely or partially blocking the upper airway. This blockage may cause snoring, choking, or gasping for air as you sleep.
Central sleep apnea (CSA): It is a less frequent condition in which your brain misdirects the impulses intended for the breathing muscles. It’s not often connected to snoring, unlike OSA.
What are the causes of sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax. These muscles provide support for the tonsils, the soft palate, the uvula, the tongue, the side walls of the throat, and the triangular piece of tissue that hangs from the soft palate.
When you relax your muscles, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in. You aren’t getting enough air, which might cause your blood’s oxygen level to drop. Your brain detects that you are having trouble breathing, quickly rousing you to allow you to reopen your airway. Usually, this revelation is so fleeting that you don’t recall it.
You could choke, snort or gasp. All night long, this sequence may repeat itself from 5 to 30 times or more every hour. It is challenging to enter the deep, restorative stages of sleep as a result.
Also read: Is it sleep apnea or insomnia? Know the difference
What is a CPAP machine?
One of the most recommended and reasonably priced therapies by doctors for obstructive sleep apnea is the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
CPAP machines come in two varieties: manual and automatic. While auto CPAP machines automatically modify pressure in response to changing needs throughout the night, manual CPAP machines offer air at a consistent pressure throughout the night.
Best 5 CPAP or sleep apnea machines in India
When it comes to comfort and restful sleep, picking the ideal CPAP or sleep apnea machine may be tough. Here we have featured some of the best sleep apnea machine brands available in India.
1. Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset
One of the best sleep apnea machines in India is the Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset, as it has unbeatable cutting-edge technology. This auto CPAP machine has two operating modes: autoset and CPAP. Further, the firm also offers a two-year warrant. The mask must be purchased individually. Resmed Airsense includes Expiratory Pressure Relief (EPR), which makes it easier to breathe out against the pressure. Intelligent event detection with climate management, auto-ramp, simple humidification settings, and an ambient light display with quick access to sleep data are some of the machine’s additional key features.
2. Philips Dreamstation Auto CPAP
If you trust renowned brands, Philips Dreamstation CPAP is perfect for you. The machine sends you daily feedback reports, which you may access via the DreamMapper App. The machine has an EPR and an Auto ramp. It weighs roughly 1.33 kg and has a sound level of 26.1 dB. With several humidification settings and a pre-heat function, its heated humidifier is removable. The machine is compatible with the heated tube.
3. OXY-MED BPAP machine with CPAP
OXY-MED machine has gained immense popularity in the Indian market. Its comfort and longevity are attributed to the German Turbine and Swiss Sensor. This sleep apnea machine’s unique detachable design offers clients the highest ease and makes it an ideal travel choice. The user experience is further improved with a heated detachable humidifier, which also eliminates the need to remove the chamber for refilling. This design choice improves usability. The machine has every high-end feature, including CSA detection, preheating, leakage compensation (up to 60 ml/min), auto on/off ramp time, and pressure relief up to 3 cm H20.
4. BPL Medical Technologies Auto CPAP Machine
The BPL Harmony CPAP machine has a simple operating display and unique body design. The machine weighs 1.55 kg and has a 28 dba sound level. The device has all the necessary settings, including a preheating mode that allows you to warm the humidifier before using it. The absence of a heated tube means that the machine lacks climate control. However, humidification levels can still be kept between 0 and 8. It can be included in a list of the best CPAP or sleep apnea machines because of characteristics like auto-altitude and auto-humidification levels.
5. BMC GII Auto CPAP Machine
BMC GII Auto CPAP Machine is one of the budget-friendly machines. Some of the major key features of this machine are auto on-off, EPR, and 60-minute ramp duration. Further, The BMC GII Auto CPAP also offers a QR code scanning feature for the iCode app to obtain sleep data. However, features like altitude compensation and leak compensation are not available. When paired with the humidifier, the device weighs about 2.5 kg. It is a little noisy because of its 30 dB sound level.
How to choose a CPAP machine for sleep apnea?
Before deciding to go with a particular model, you should take into account the factors listed below:
As height rises, the air becomes thinner. Since a CPAP machine does not have enough ambient air, the patient will receive air at a lower pressure than specified. If you frequently travel or live in an area with high altitudes, be sure to get a CPAP machine with a high-performing altitude.
In certain machines, purchasing a humidifier is an option, but it might not be available at all in others. Before purchasing the machine, you should make sure the provider has the accessories you want.
The continual air pressure that enters a patient’s mouth or nostrils might make breathing difficult. A ramp time option on some CPAP devices can help you with this issue.
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