As more people become diagnosed with sleep apnea and fitted with life-changing CPAP machines, the conversation about this condition continues to spread. However, the issue facing sleep apnea sufferers is the extreme misconceptions surrounding their symptoms, the CPAP machine, and the severity of their disorder. As most people are oblivious to what suffering sleep apnea is really like, we debunk the most widespread myths about sleep apnea and discuss the realities for people suffering from excessive snoring and patients who depend on a CPAP machine every night.
1. Sleep apnea can go untreated
It’s just snoring, right? This misconception about what sleep apnea is has plagued sufferers for years. The result of this myth is the majority of the population going underdiagnosed. If left untreated, sleep apnea can be a significant contributor to numerous severe conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, depression, high blood pressure, liver disease, and the likelihood of suffering a stroke.
2. Sleeping is worse with a CPAP machine
Another key reason why people go undiagnosed with sleep apnea is because of the myth surrounding the experience of using a CPAP machine. Many assume that using a CPAP machine is harder to sleep with, is uncomfortable for the sufferer, and makes it challenging to relax while wearing the mask. While the first couple of days with the machine are an adjustment period, the patient’s ability to sleep improves exponentially with the CPAP machine. The constant airflow to the patient means the sufferer doesn’t experience continuous waking during the night or have to endure the exhausting efforts to recover their breathing.
3. You can’t travel with a CPAP machine
Once fitted with your CPAP machine, you aren’t confined to the four walls of your bedroom, as most people assume. The design of CPAP machines are travel-friendly, so you can confidently fly with them, both locally and overseas. We always recommend keeping your device in your carry-on luggage, however, to protect it during travel.
4. You don’t need to care for your CPAP machine
Many times we have experienced first-hand the repercussions of neglecting a CPAP machine’s cleanliness. The style of technology is applied directly to the face, through the use of a mask, and that means it can attract oils and dirt from the face, clogging the mask and filters. Excessive build-up of dirt, as well as germs, allergens and mould, can end up making you sick, so a CPAP machine must be cleaned regularly, daily being ideal.