CPAP(Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine is used in sleep apnea, it delivers the air pressure via mask while sleeping, which clears the obstruction in the upper airways and the user can sleep peacefully.
Buying a CPAP machine is a tough task, there are a lot of options available and the market is flooded with different brands of CPAP machines. If you are buying a CPAP machine for the first time there is always a checklist to consider before buying.
In this article, we will be discussing the journey of buying the CPAP machine.
- Type of CPAP Machine
There are two types of CPAP machines available – Manual/ fixed pressure CPAP which delivers constant pressure the whole night and sometimes it is very uncomfortable against such constant pressure throughout the night.
Second name is Auto CPAP, it can detect how much pressure is needed by the user and it delivers the optimum pressure as per the need. Auto CPAP is the more recommended one and better too.
There are many travel CPAPs also available in the market which are compact, smaller and lighter than the usual CPAP machine. They don’t have any humidifiers and work on a waterless humidification system.
- Price
Price is the important factor while planning a purchase of a CPAP machine. Fixed pressure CPAPs are cheaper than Auto CPAP machines. Auto CPAP comes in the price range between Rs. 45,000 – 65,000.
Fixed Pressure ranges between Rs. 30,000 – 32,000 in India. Well the cost depends on various factors like the brand, accessories, mask, heated tube etc. there are many price lists available on the online platforms where you can check the best price.
- Brand
There are many Chinese and premium brands available in the market. It is always better to decide first about the brand. The premium and best brands include Resmed, Philips Respironics. BMC is also a good brand but it’s a Chinese brand.
Resmed and Philips Respironics are the best brands. Philips CPAP and BiPAP machines are recalled due to health safety issues. Currently Resmed is the pioneer in the sleep market. Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset is the best CPAP machine in the market to date.
- Features
When the features are concerned, now there are many CPAP Machines available in the market which have many advanced options and settings for CPAP therapy. Few of such options are listed below-
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- Humidifier
Humidifiers are important for CPAP therapy. They make the therapy very comfortable and prevent dryness and sore throat problems. Some machines come with detachable humidifiers too but almost all CPAP machines nowadays are coming with integrated heated humidifiers.
If you use a heated tube which comes with premium models is very much helpful and makes the therapy natural, it prevents the rainout condition too.
- Ramp and Auto Ramp
Ramp is a very important feature as the initial phase of the therapy is a little bit tough to fall asleep. By setting Ramp time, the machine will start therapy with the lowest pressure set by the user, rise gradually and after the preset time the CPAP machine will deliver the prescribed pressure.
The premium machines have Auto Ramp feature too that can detect the sleep onset. The CPAP machine when set to Auto Ramp feature, the machine starts with lower pressure but when it detects that the person has fallen asleep , it increases the pressure gradually.
- Expiratory Relief
This feature makes your exhalation very natural. Since there is a continuous supply of air pressure, it is very difficult and uncomfortable to breathe out against that pressure. There is a pressure drop when the user exhales so that they can breathe out easily.
- Sleep Data Storage System
The advanced models are coming to market with wireless connectivity, bluetooth connectivity whereas the older models still have SD cards to store sleep therapy data. Additionally, CPAP machines may now link to your smartphone using Bluetooth technology, unlike prior models that were restricted to utilizing SD memory cards.
Other features include, leakage compensation, leakage alerts, auto on/off, mask fit, altitude compensation, preheat etc.
After analyzing these points we are sure that you can easily find a good CPAP machine for yourself. So, Get your sleep test done, as for CPAP machines you should have a prescription to buy.
