Top 3 CPAP Machines in the Market
Sleep apnea is a serious sleeping disorder which can cause a major risk to your health and quality of life. The breathing airway may close partially or fully during sleep, limiting oxygen flow into your body. If diagnosed, CPAP therapy is usually recommended to treat sleep apnea. It requires a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device to provide a constant pressure to keep the airway open. Today, these devices are no longer loud and bulky. Manufacturers have designed many different models to suit different needs. Let’s take a look at some brands that are current leaders of CPAP. The top three brands that are most reputable in the market today are ResMed, Philips Respironics, and Fisher and Paykel. Air pressure devices have different levels that can either provide a constant air pressure, auto range pressure, or Bi-level pressure. Machines usually come with a humidifier, a travel bag, and the standard tubing. To enhance your therapy, many will choose to have heated tubing instead of a standardize hose to prevent dryness in the nose or mouth.Philips Respironics: Dreamstation Auto
The Dreamstation is one of the most travel friendly CPAP devices, as it is designed to be used with or without the humidifier. The humidifier can be easily removed, reducing half the size of the full apparatus making it easier to pack. It is extremely user-friendly and the user interface makes it easy to read and navigate. EZ Start, a function that is available on this system, can gradually increase the air pressure to its prescribed number, providing a positive sleep therapy experience to ease a patient into CPAP.
Exclusively designed with a cellular modem, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, this allows the patient to monitor your progress every night at the convenience of your own phone by downloading the DreamMapper App. The app can tell you how many hours you slept, your AHI (Apnea Hypopnea Index), and whether or not your mask is leaking. It is very important to be able to monitor your own therapy to benefit the most out of your device and to stay compliant. Many have expressed that the machine is very quiet and barely notice it’s there!
Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset
Most popular, Airsense 10 Autoset is ResMed’s auto adjusting sleep therapy mode. Similar to other APAP machines, the compact machine adapts by monitoring the patient’s unique breathing pattern to give the lowest therapy pressure needed for therapy. There is also a special option for women, Airsense 10 Autoset For Her, with an enhanced algorithm which increases sensitivity to help provide a comfortable therapy for women. ResMed machines perform with a “climate control” which adjusts its humidity output according to its environment.
The device has an integrated wireless modem which continuously connects to your home care provider, allowing them to monitor your therapy and make any adjustments remotely without needing to bring in your CPAP. The built-in ambient light sensor is a feature loved by many as it adjusts the brightness of the screen based on the light in the room!
Fisher and Paykel Sleepstyle
Fisher and Paykel are leaders in developing respiratory humidifier systems for critical care.
To provide therapies that maintain optimal lung function, it is critical to understand how air pressure affects the balance of humidity in the lungs. When your respiratory system is not 100% moistened, it weakens your airway’s natural defense mechanism for removing debris and bacteria when passing through the trachea. A good humidifier will support a more comfortable therapy, eliminating dry mouth, dry throat, and nasal congestion. F&P experts are able to design CPAP devices that give us the same experience between using an external breathing system and a normal functioning airway without sleep apnea.
The newest successor to the Icon range, Sleepstyle, is a premium device focusing on simplicity, easy to clean, and additional comfort features. The system is even available in different languages other than English, making it accessible for the public of different cultures.
All three PAP devices are great choices and are most commonly used by sleep apnea patients. CPAP technology is constantly improving so that it provides for greater options which then allows you to find that “ideal” CPAP machine that meets your personal needs. It is important that you do your homework when trying to figure out which machine suits you best. Other CPAP machines that are not listed here, such as the Z1 travel PAP, are also great devices that are able to provide the results needed to keep your airway open during sleep. No matter which machine you choose, remember to follow up with a local home care provider to perform needed maintenance checks to ensure optimal CPAP therapy.