CPAP Pillow

The Main Uses of the CPAP Pillow

Sleep apnea is a medical condition where the persons breathing slows down and sometimes stops for a period of ten seconds or more. This occurrence takes place three or more times in one night and can have serious and far-reaching effects on the affected person’s health. Sleep apnea can aggravate existing medical conditions such as thyroid, heart diseases, blood pressure, depression, etc., and can also cause heart attacks, strokes or sexual dysfunctions. Thankfully sleep apnea can be treated and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure treatment or CPAP is the most commonly administered and most effective treatment. CPAP treatment can be enhanced with the use of a CPAP pillow.

What is a CPAP pillow?
A CPAP pillow is a type of pillow that people who are on the CPAP treatment use. Studies show that CPAP is most successful when the treatment is administered correctly. The CPAP treatment includes the use of a mask, which is placed either on the nose or sometimes covers the nose and mouth, tubes and a machine that controls the air pressure. As this mask is strapped on to the persons face, using a normal pillow becomes slightly inconvenient. Hence the use of a CPAP pillow that makes sure that there is enough space for the equipment while giving you the support and comfort that you require while sleeping.

Is there only one type or a CPAP pillow?
With constant innovations there is not one type of CPAP pillow but quite a few options. Since one of the objectives of treating sleep apnea is to ensure that a person gets sound sleep, using a comfortable CPAP pillow is of equal importance. Some CPAP pillows are designed with hollow spaces that provide ample space and support for all the CPAP equipment. There are some pillows that are more flexible in nature where a person has the option of finding his/her comfort zone and adjust the pillow accordingly. The use of this type of specialty pillow is more common amongst people as it gives them more freedom and flexibility to choose their sleeping positions without worrying about a mask moving or shifting while they sleep.

However, it is advised that a person suffering from sleep apnea should try all the different types of pillows that are available before zeroing in on the CPAP pillow of their choice.

Benefits of the CPAP pillow
The biggest advantage that a CPAP pillow provides is that it allows the person suffering from sleep apnea to get a good nights’ sleep despite wearing a mask. Apart from this some of the other benefits of the CPAP pillow are as follows:

• Provides adequate neck and back support.
• Ensures that the CPAP masks stays in place making the treatment 100% effective.
• Helps to align the neck with the spine and gives a lot of relief to pressure points on the spine.
• Despite being soft and comfortable, the CPAP pillow prevents the head from dropping off.
• Can be used in tandem with any type or quality of CPAP mask.