Sleep Apnea Cpap Machine Pressure Settings

Respironics machines have two modes cpap and c flex.

Sleep apnea cpap machine pressure settings.

The machine then automatically and slowly increases the air pressure to your prescribed setting as you fall asleep. To find your altitude click here. In general your cpap pressure settings should be just high enough to hold your airway open. An apap machine may help you improve your sleep if you suffer from sleep apnea.

First set the ramp pressure values then the ramp time. The highest pressure available on your cpap machine will depend on the model you own. Most cpap machines are able to go as high as 25 cmh2o but that is far too high for the average sleep apnea sufferer. You probably know that the unit of pressure used for cpap is centimeters of water cm h2o.

Most people with sleep apnea require a pressure setting between 6 and 14 cm h 2 o or centimeters of water is a unit of pressure. This setting allows you to start with low air pressure. If the pressure is too high you may struggle with the device have nasal congestion and experience choppy or fragmented sleep. Determining required cpap pressure.

While the average setting is 10 cmh2o your setting will likely fall anywhere between 6 and 15 cmh2o. However this rating is too high for most people. The vast majority of people require more pressure than this lowest setting. 8 cm h2o is almost 0 11 psi which represents a low pressure for the lung s capacity.

A sleep physician determines the optimum cpap pressure after reviewing your apnea hypopnea index ahi. Press the user button on the right to get to the set the pressure display screen. In most cases cpap pressure settings max out at 20 to 25 cm h2o. For instance if the pressure is set at 10 cm h2o then the pressure is the same as if you were drinking water through a 10 centimeter straw.

Cpap machines deliver a specific amount of pressurized air to prevent the soft tissue from collapsing and blocking your airway. After these is the altitude setting 1 9 where 1 1 000 feet above sea level. Press the ramp button to select either cpap or c flex as your mode. Most cpap machines have a pressure settings range from 4 cm h 2 o to 20 cm h 2 o.

Learn the differences between automatic positive airway pressure machines and if it s best for you. Your doctor can adjust its rate. When the pressure is too low you may suffer symptoms of sleep apnea. Your cpap pressure settings are measured in centimeters of water pressure or cmh2o.

Changing the cpap pressure can cause problems but a little one centimeter of h2o plus or minus can t affect your husband s health. The lowest setting on cpap machines maybe 4 to 5 centimeters of water pressure abbreviated as cm of h2o or cwp. The maximum setting varies with the type of machine but it could be as high as 25 or 30 cwp.