How to Deal With Sinus Problems and Your Cpap

Sleep apnea is very common and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. I, like many others, was told I had sleep apnea about a year ago after going through a couple of sleep studies. After using a cpap machine with a mask for a year now, I have been getting sinus infections. Here are a few steps I have taken to help with the sinus problems while still using my cpap machine.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baby Shampoo or Mild Soap
• Warm Water
• Vinegar
• Distilled Water
• Sinus Rinse

1. First try different masks to see which one you are the most comfortable with. Believe me, I’ve been through more then a few to find the one that I could coop with. Now I finally found one that I really like and feel comfortable with.

2. Using a humidifier with your cpap can have a dramatic effect on comfort. Humidifiers relieve nasal irritation and dryness that can result from constant airflow. Heated humidification is supposed to help with nasal dryness, irritation, or congestion.

3. Clean your mask by soaking the parts of your mask and hose in warm water and baby shampoo for 15 to 20 minutes. Then rinse and let dry. The humidifier can be cleaned by mixing a little vinegar and water and let that sit for about 10 then wash it with mild soap and warm water. The more often you clean the better.

4. 
    

   Try a nasal rinse, which cleans your passages and gives you a good clean feeling afterward. It will clean out your sinuses and you will be able to breath a lot better. I have been doing the sinus rinse a couple times a day for a few days now after going through a sinus infection and I feel so much better. You must try it.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use distilled water in you humidifier.
• When filling the water chamber to clean, fill to the maximum water level mark.
• Use one part vinegar to ten parts of water.
• Dispose of any distilled water left in the chamber and replace with fresh water every day.
• Don’t use moisturize, antibacterial or glycerin based soap.
• Keep all parts and humidifier out of direct sunlight when drying.

[dtwelloh]

on 3/8/2009 Excellent info. I'll have to try this. Well written article. Give it 5 stars and a recommendation.

[showpup]

on 5/29/2008 I have a cpap machine as well. I didn't know I could have a humidifier with mine. I'll have to ask about that. It's time to get a new mask anyhow. (insurance lets me get a new one every 6 months - still haven't found my ideal mask)

[akchrist]

on 5/28/2008 good ideas