When it comes to treating obstructive sleep apnea, it is important to switch to the proper method of treatment that can make your breathing easier. Most of the time, when patients visit the clinics with obstructive sleep apnea, they get the treatment suggestion either with the BiPAP devices or with CPAP machines. Unlike the bi-level pressure range of the BiPAP devices, the CPAP devices work with a single level of pressure. It is mostly used to treat moderate to severe levels of sleep apnea. However, though the CPAP method is the standard one to treat sleep apnea effectively, it can come up with some potential risks for the patients who have pneumonia. Thus people who are having pneumonia and at the same time required for the CPAP treatment need to follow some of the precautions. Here is what you need to know about it:

Pneumonia and CPAP machines

Patients with sleep apnea sometimes can also suffer from pneumonia. The CPAP devices in such cases are going to ease out the risk of breathing obstruction with sleep apnea, but it can enhance the share of risk for sleep apnea if not used appropriately.

Usually, a heated humidifier along with a heated tubing makes the sleep apnea therapy more warm and moist for those who are having issues like drying out of mouth and passageways. However, it can also attract some of the organisms which live in that humid and warm atmosphere if the hose and the masks are not properly dried out after each use. Various organisms like fungus, mold, and yeast can potentially grow in this hot and humid weather. The air pressure from the CPAP machine can blow these harmful pathogens inside your lungs, which can cause pneumonia.

How do you properly use CPAP devices to mitigate the risk of pneumonia?

When it comes to using the CPAP machines safely for your treatment, you need to make sure that you are taking all the precautions to prevent it from spreading any kind of disease. Here is how you can easily decrease the risk of infection with your CPAP device:

Regularly clean your CPAP machine

Many times the pneumonia-related complications occur due to using a very dirty machine for the treatment.  Using a dirty machine for a long time makes it easier to deliver the dirt to your lungs which can easily cause the risk of pneumonia. It is important to clean the filters of the machine regularly.

Always use distilled water

Putting distilled water in the humidifier usually minimizes the risk of any kind of harmful infection. Using normal tap water from your local source, which is not at all trustworthy, can turn up with better chances of diseases. Thus it is important to use the water which is purified. Tap water can often come up with harmful organisms or particles, which can worsen your condition. Thus make sure you are using only the distilled water.

Leave no chances for the water to accumulate

Mold can potentially form in a CPAP machine if the water sits for a long time in the machine. To make sure that the molds are not getting any chance to stay there for long, try to pour the water away after each use. Also, make sure you are drying it completely before using it again.

Keep replacing your supplies regularly

When you are using a CPAP device for a long time, then it is important to make sure you are replacing the supplies attached to it regularly. To keep yourself away from pneumonia or other infections, it is important to regularly replace your CPAP supplies. Change the machine filter quite often, as suggested by the manufacturer, to prevent the spread of the bacteria.

Stay away from sharing your CPAP device with anyone else

The bacterial and viral infections are quite contagious. Thus it is very important to note that you are not sharing your CPAP device with anyone else, and especially not with the one who suffers very often from various kinds of infections.

Conclusion:

If you are suffering from any kind of lung infection, then it is better to stay attentive while using the CPAP devices for your treatment. Make sure you are cleaning your device popularly and using it hygienically to stay away from any potential risks.