Why You Should Keep Your CPAP Equipment Clean

If you wear a CPAP mask for your sleep apnea, chances are you've noticed your mask getting dirty. Whether you've had it for years and follow cleaning practices, or have only had your device a short time, you know that the tubes, and the mask itself, can attract gunk. But with so much air moving through and regular contact with skin, it's only a matter of time before these devices get bogged down with dirt. However, that unwelcome addition can also affect just how well your mask will work.

Grime can keep the mask from sealing properly to your face, which means air that leaks. Leaking, in turn, can affect how well you breathe, and it can cause discomfort by pushing air onto your skin. Dirty CPAP masks can also irritate or cause break outs, and it can cause the mask itself to break down from foreign matter. Additionally, when tubes aren't clear, less air can flow through and into your lungs.

However, by regularly cleaning your mask and tubes, you can keep your CPAP device running properly and effectively.

Cleaning Your CPAP Mask is Easy

With the help of cleaning wipes, you can easily keep your mask clean. These wipes are designed to clear out gunk quickly, and to remove any excess build up. Keep them by your bed for a simple wipe down every time you use your mask. Frequent cleanings will keep your device working as it should, and it will prevent bigger clean ups from becoming necessary. 

It's recommended to clean off CPAP masks after every use. Without wipes, warm water and gentle soap can also be used to achieve the same cleaning effect. 

Get more use out of your sleeping mask with regular cleanings – stay tuned for a step-by-step tutorial on keeping your CPAP mask clean. And click here to check out more info on CPAP cleaning wipes. 

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How do CPAP Pillows Help CPAP Therapy?

If you've been reading our blog, you've heard about CPAP therapy and you understand the perks. You've also heard about the add-on accessories, like cleaning wipes and the importance of keeping your mask clean. Overall, you understand how the treatment, as a whole, can help to treat sleep apnea. But have you heard about the pillows yet? Do you know what these things can do?

CPAP pillows are specialty designed to work with your treatment, not against it. With specific cutouts and a shape that cradles the mask, sleep apnea suffers don't have to worry that their equipment might get in the way of comfortable sleep. (Because let's face it, without comfort, it's pretty hard to actually sleep.) CPAP pillows also make space for breathing tubes, so you can eliminate as much stress from the process as possible. 

With CPAP pillows, you can use your sleep apnea treatment to the highest level of efficiency. Because your equipment is made to work with one another, there's no logistical issues, such as a mask not fitting or a tube that gets caught up in the fluff.

So how do CPAP pillows help CPAP therapy? By making each night as restful as possible, and by allowing the machine to do its work with a nighttime routine that doesn't obstruct. While still offering a supportive sleeping surface, CPAP pillows allow the machine to do its job. 

If you're suffering from sleep apnea, a CPAP pillow can greatly enhance your nightly treatments. Talk to your doctor about available models, or head to the Contour Living page in order to learn more, and what they can do to better enhance your treatments. 

Or, ask a representative via live chat to gain immediate answers to your pillow-related questions. 

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What is the Best CPAP Pillow?

What is it that truly qualifies something as the "best"? Is it style? Function? Comfort? A combination of all of the above? Opinions on what contributes to best status will certainly vary from person to person. But in the case of the CPAP pillow – or even a slew of them – it can be argued that the best pillow is the one who sets out to do its specialized function. In this case: to help CPAP machine users get a better night's rest, and to not feel bogged down by their machine. 

Through years of CPAP machine usage, a number of sleeping problems, or rather discomforts, have come to light. Pillows that get in the way of the mask, even ones that push it back into one's face. Those that are too heavy, or don't allow for sufficient movement throughout the night (or if traveling). As well as pillows that can actually hinder the air tube, the very bones behind the CPAP machine itself. 

That's also why Contour Products worked so hard to create options that address all of the above, and more. 

Choose from our various CPAP pillows to find the best model for your comfort needs. However, each version comes with a few key features. They can cradle and support the head and neck, they have special cutouts to accommodate the CPAP mask and other equipment, like tubes, and they're made to sleep on either side. Who wants to worry about choosing their sleeping position when ordering a pillow? These CPAP accessories allow you to adjust and move as needed, without hindering your treatment. 

With a specialized pillow, those suffering from sleep apnea can get better use out of their CPAP therapy options. Head to Contour Living's CPAP pillow page to learn more, or start a chat with one of representatives for answers to your personalized questions. 

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How Do CPAP Pillows Help CPAP Therapy?

Sleep apnea is a condition that affects the ability to get a good night sleep. By interrupting your body's airflow and steady breathing, it wakes you throughout the night. Keeping you from obtaining long bouts of rest, or gaining some of the deepest REM levels. Over time this can add up to some serious sleep deprivation. One of the best ways to gain sleep apnea relief, however, is through CPAP treatments, which stands for continuous positive airway pressure. By essentially forcing air through the nasal passages, patients can rest easy, without their body obstructing their own nightly airflow.

But did you know it can get even better than that? Accessories have been specifically designed to help make CPAP therapy more effective. For instance, lotions that help keep your nose moist, wipes that allow you to clean your mask with ease. And what has been voted the unofficial crowd favorite, the CPAP pillow. It works by hosting specialty cutouts that fit your CPAP mask. That way you can turn and roll throughout the night, but without fear of smashing your mask up against your pillow. No matter how well your machine is helping you sleep, plastic forced into your skin is sure to cause an unwelcome wake up call. 

The pillows also host cord cutouts on either side, allowing you to turn from left to right with ease. No crushing your own air tube, and the flexibility to sleep on whichever side is most comfortable. Even if that means switching throughout the night. 

Being more comfortable means better sleep, as well as a more efficient nighttime routine. Putting on a breathing mask for bed has never been so easy. If you're already using a CPAP machine or are in talks with your doctor about adding one to your nighttime routine, consider the help of a CPAP pillow for an additional layer of comfort, and easy equipment use.  

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4 Products to Help Keep Sleep Apnea in Check

When you don't sleep well, your entire day can suffer. Where you're tired, cranky, and irritable from not having earned good rest. Yet these moments causing such behavior can be quick and infrequent, in fact, we might not even remember them. But for anyone who has sleep apnea, quick wake ups can occur hundreds of times per night. 

With a combination of doctor-recommended advice, CPAP machines, and more, however, patients have worked to cure – or at least slow down – this ongoing problem.

To get the most out of your CPAP treatment, look to these popular Contour Living devices and accessories. 

CPAP Pillows

It can be hard to obtain rest when there's a mask covering your face. Especially for anyone sleeping on their side. To obtain better comfort, enlist the help of a CPAP pillow. Each has strategically placed cutouts so you can comfortably lay without mask pressure pushing back into your body (r your face!) and interrupting sleep.

Cleaning Wipes

Safe and effective, having these cleaning wipes nearby can help you ensure your mask is clean (and smell-free) at all times. Use on a regular basis, as well as daily when suffering from a cold, in order to keep your mask as clean as possible.

Face and Nasal Moisturizer

It's likely that, until you used a CPAP machine, never in your life did you think you'd need a nasal passage moisturizer. Yet with a constant stream of air running through it, the nose becomes suddenly very dry. Use this specialty-designed moisturizer, along with a face lotion, to help keep your skin as hydrated as possible.

Tube Holder

No one wants to roll over and hit their air tube – or even risk smashing it with their own body weight. With this holder, however, you can help keep your air supply readily in place, and in an ideal working position. 

To learn more or start shopping, head to the links above. 

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New CPAP Accessories at Contour Living

CPAP Accessories Improve Comfort and Compliance

CPAP Moisturizers, Creams, Cleaners and more!

If you’re one of the millions of people who suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, you’re probably familiar with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy. CPAP therapy is a very effective treatment for Sleep Apnea, however, success is sometimes limited by poor compliance. This is usually related to trouble sleeping with a CPAP mask, or discomfort associated with sleeping with a CPAP mask an night.

Many times, it is a challenge to adjust to sleeping with CPAP masks and accessories. As CPAP masks press against your face, it can cause discomfort, skin irritation and drying out of the eyes, face and entire nasal area. Even the CPAP hose can be difficult to control, sleep movement can become restricted and your bedroom environment can become clinical and cold feeling.

Some good news: theer a re many CPAP accessories now available which help with these CPAP sleep issues. Among the most helpful are CPAP bed pillows that are specifically designed to accommodate CPAP masks, improving comfort and reducing mask leaks. Additionally, CPAP hose tethers attach to the pillow and allow for better control during the night, by keeping the hose out of your way. Specially formulated lotions and creams prevent nasal irritation and drying out of the skin, nostrils and eyes. CPAP cleaning wipes are also available which make it easy to keep up with maintenance on your CPAP sleep unit, masks and all accessories.

To learn more about CPAP accessory items, visit our CPAP Supply Category

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