If you find yourself waking up with a dry mouth, nose, or throat, then a CPAP humidifier should instantly solve that problem. A humidifier adds warmth and moisture to the air provided by your CPAP machine, which will moisturise your mouth, nose, and throat throughout the night. Similarly, if you find the air from your CPAP to be cold and uncomfortable, a CPAP humidifier will make your therapy more comfortable.
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A Sleep Apnoea humidifier, also known as a CPAP humidifier, instantly prevents common CPAP machine side effects. If you find yourself waking up with a dry mouth, nose or throat, adding a CPAP humidifier to your therapy will solve this.
It is clinically proven that humidification improves compliance and helps CPAP and BiPAP users avoid suffering from a dry nose, mouth and throat. A humidifier can be extremely beneficial for those who are often visiting countries with drier climates. Still, even in the UK and colder parts of Europe, CPAP users report significant benefits from a humidifier added to their setup.
Those who breathe through their mouths specifically benefit from using a CPAP humidifier. This is because when you breathe through your nose, the hairs in the nasal airway warm the air with heat and humidity before it enters the lungs. Whereas, when you breathe through your mouth, this process is not present and can lead to uncomfortable dryness. One other note is that allergies and illness can make the effects worse.
A CPAP humidifier houses a water chamber, which heats to add moisture to the air provided by your machine. They are ideal for those who find the device leaves them waking with a dry mouth, sore nasal passages or find the air cold and therefore uncomfortable.
Humidifier chambers are usually an additional piece of equipment that locks onto or into your main CPAP machine, but some machines come with a humidifier built-in. Most CPAP machines will have their specific CPAP humidifier available that is only compatible with the device.
For some people, having a humidifier moisten and warm the air from their CPAP machine is an essential part of their therapy; for others, there is little benefit, so it can come down to personal preference. Those using a full face mask are more likely to require humidified air as they are more susceptible to a dry mouth. For those using an oral mask, humidified air is more or less essential.
Intus healthcare advice:
All though we do believe that CPAP humidifiers can improve the comfort of the therapy for suffers, we would advise that if you’re new to CPAP therapy, you should try your mask and machine before you purchase a humidifier.
The level of your CPAP humidifier determines the amount of moisture added to your therapy. Finding the best humidity level for your therapy can be down to trial and error.
We advise that you begin by setting your humidity level at a lower setting. If you find the humidity is too low and you’re uncomfortable, gradually increase the setting. If your humidity settings are too high you could experience gurgling sounds from your machine and rainout (condensation).
Refer to your device instruction guide for further advice on your CPAP humidifier.
CPAP humidifier rainout & how to solve it
A possible drawback of humidified air is from, what we call Rainout, the proper name for condensation build-up in the tubing and mask. It is likely to happen because the tubing and CPAP mask will be at room temperature (20–22 °C (68–72 °F)), causing the warmer air from the CPAP machine to cool and condense as a result.
Rainout can result in a gargling noise or just general discomfort; it is particularly common in the winter months.
One solution is to use a hose fleece, which provides the CPAP machine’s hose with insulation, temperature regulation and protection. The second and more comprehensive option is to use a heated CPAP hose, such as the universal Hybernate Heated Breathing Tube. A heated tube can only be used in unison with a humidifier. The heated hose ensures the temperature difference inside the tubing is negligible, preventing rainout and ensuring the air reaches you at the correct temperature.
You can contact us if you need any help with your CPAP humidifier.
These are some of the common side effects of CPAP therapy that can often be reduced or completely irradiated by a humidifier:
If you need any information about how a humidifier can work with your CPAP machine, or if you are looking to make sure your new machine has one, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice.
If you have a blocked, stuffy or runny nose, a humidifier helps to break down the mucus. Adding moisture and warmth to your airways to relieve congestion. During the colder Winter months, a humidifier can be highly beneficial.
It is not essential that you have a humidifier for CPAP therapy, but humidification has been shown to increase CPAP compliance – this is to say, that you are more likely to use it, and more likely to use it for longer period of time if the therapy is more comfortable.
There are different types of Sleep Apnoea humidifiers, including those designed for travel and for home use.
For most CPAP machines, humidifiers can be purchased at a later date and integrated separately, so you can order your CPAP machine without the humidifier and see how you go. However, if you do find yourself already waking up with a dry mouth before you’ve started CPAP therapy and are new to CPAP therapy, then CPAP is likely to make this condition worse, and we would recommend purchasing one immediately.
If you know, you need a humidifier; then it could be worth considering a machine with a humidifier built-in. This design adds greater convenience, and they’re often more compact than having two separate units (space on your bedside table).
Intus healthcare advice:
If you’ve experienced dry mouth when you take off your CPAP mask in the morning, you’re not alone. CPAP machines can cause dry mouth.
Non-heated air can be one reason for this, but dry mouth can also be caused by certain medications, or a severe mask leak. If you have eliminated these last two as being the cause, then opting to add humidification to your machine could benefit you a great deal.
All tap water contains mineral deposits, microbes and germs. It is not safe to risk breathing these in and overtime these contaminants can build up in the motor of your machine, the tubing and your mask. In time, this can damage your equipment and the machine. Distilled water should be the only water you should place in the water chamber.
Can I use boiled water instead of distilled water?
Boiled water and distilled water are not the same. Boiled water is water that has had the temperature increased until it reaches its boiling point. Although this kills a host of bacteria that can make a person sick, it is not purified. Distilled water, on the other hand, is pure H20 because distillation removes all of its impurities, including minerals.
You can disinfect your humidifier by soaking it in a solution of vinegar and water. 1/5 of the solution should be vinegar and the rest water. Please leave it to soak in the solution for up to 30 minutes, then thoroughly rinse it with water and leave it to dry. Make sure when you leave it to dry; it is out of the way of direct sunlight.
Avoid cleaning your CPAP humidification system water chamber with any substances that would be harmful to breathe in:
This includes –
And any other potentially harmful substances. Using fragrance-free soap is advised when cleaning your CPAP humidifier.
A possible drawback of humidified air is from, what we call Rainout, the proper name for condensation build up in the tubing and mask. It is likely to happen because the tubing and CPAP mask will be at room temperature (20–22 °C (68–72 °F), causing the warmer air from the CPAP machine to cool and condense as a result. Rainout can result in a gargling noise or just general discomfort; it is particularly common in the winter months.
