4 Signs Your CPAP Supplies Are Dirty
Posted on: 12 January 2021
Sleep apnea can have a negative effect on your ability to enjoy daily life. CPAP machines have the power to improve the quality of your sleep and increase energy levels throughout the day.
Many different types of supplies must be used in coordination with a CPAP machine in order for the machine to function properly. Some of these supplies include your CPAP mask, tubes, and various air filters.
You must keep these supplies clean if you want your CPAP machine to continue being a reliable and beneficial part of your healthcare routine. Being able to identify dirty CPAP supplies is the first step in proper CPAP maintenance.
1. Strange Odor
A CPAP machine and supplies that have been properly cleaned should have no odor. One of the easiest ways to determine if your CPAP equipment is in need of a good cleaning is to give each component a good whiff.
If you detect a musty odor, you must immediately clean your CPAP supplies.
Many CPAP machines are equipped with a humidifier that helps moisturize the air pushed through your respiratory system each night. This moisture can accumulate in the reservoirs and tubing of your CPAP machine.
Bacteria, mold, and other contaminants can begin to grow in these moist environments over time. A musty odor indicates that your CPAP machine needs to be cleaned and sanitized to eliminate contaminants.
2. Visual Discoloration
Another great way to determine if your CPAP supplies need to be cleaned is to complete a thorough visual inspection. Many of your CPAP supplies will display visible discoloration when they get too dirty.
One of the most important components to monitor for visual dirt is the filter. Filters are responsible for eliminating particulate matter from the air before it is pushed through your respiratory system by the CPAP machine. A dirty filter can't function properly and could cause you to become ill.
You will also see signs of visible discoloration in your CPAP mask and tubing when mineral deposits left behind as water evaporates begin to accumulate. Cleaning these supplies as soon as you spot any discoloration will help extend the life of your CPAP machine.
3. Skin Irritation
Even if your CPAP supplies appear to be clean, microscopic residue could be accumulating on the surface of your CPAP mask.
Your CPAP mask must be fitted snugly to your face in order for the CPAP machine to work properly. This means that the outer edges of the mask are in full contact with your skin at all times when your CPAP machine is in use.
Oils, skin cells, and dirt that has settled on your skin can be transferred to the mask. A mask that has been dirtied in this way can cause you to experience skin irritation.
If you frequently wake up with acne, soreness, redness, or peeling skin, this irritation may be prevented by giving your CPAP supplies a thorough cleaning.
4. Recurring Infections
You are exposed to the air circulating through your CPAP machine on a continual basis each night. This means that the cleanliness of your CPAP machine and supplies can have a direct impact on your health.
Some CPAP machine users experience recurring infections as a result of inhaling contaminants found within their CPAP supplies.
You will need to give your machine a thorough cleaning if you are constantly battling a cough, sinus infection, or other respiratory illness that your doctor treats with antibiotics.
Be sure that you can recognize when your CPAP supplies are dirty so that you can avoid the negative impact dirty CPAP equipment can have on your overall health.
Share