Submitted by Heartland Home Medical
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy can make a world of difference for the millions of Americans who suffer from sleep apnea, but to get the most out of this gold-standard treatment, it’s important to make CPAP cleaning a top priority. Dirty CPAP equipment not only puts you at risk of getting sick, it also reduces the effectiveness of CPAP therapy.
Is your CPAP machine in need of a thorough cleaning? Here are some common signs of a dirty CPAP device:
An unpleasant odor
When you bring your CPAP mask to your face, are you hit with a nasty smell? This is typically a sure sign that you aren’t using a clean CPAP machine. It’s gross to think about, but an odor indicates that there could be mold or mildew living in your CPAP equipment. Mold and mildew thrive in warm, moist environments just like your CPAP tubing.
Feeling under the weather
You can’t blame every bout of illness on your CPAP machine, but if you notice that your sinuses are bothering you more than usual or that you just can’t seem to overcome that lingering cold, it could be that you’re breathing in germs from your CPAP equipment.
Sore spots and skin irritation
When you apply your CPAP mask directly to your face, it picks up the oil and dirt from your skin. If you aren’t diligent about CPAP cleaning, that oil and dirt will continue to accumulate on your mask, sometimes leading to sore sports and skin irritation.
In an ideal world, you should be proactive enough about CPAP cleaning that none of these issues arise in the first place. Many CPAP users become lax about lengthy CPAP cleaning processes that require special cleaning wipes, a tube-cleaning brush to access all those hard-to-reach areas, and thoroughly drying the equipment every day either by laying it out or using an equipment dryer.
However, cleaning CPAP equipment doesn’t have to be a bothersome chore. There is a new device available that not only outranks any other cleaning method, but is fast and easy. The SoClean CPAP Cleaner and Sanitizer is an automated machine that effectively kills 99.9 percent of CPAP germs in the mask, hose, and reservoir without the use of any chemicals or even water.
By cleaning CPAP equipment daily, you’ll be on the best path toward preventing odors, skin irritation, and sinus infections.
The SoClean CPAP Cleaning System is available at Heartland Home Medical Supply. They are a locally owned company, providing quality service, products, and equipment to help each individual remain active, independent, healthy, and safe in their homes, whether it is for a short-term need or long-term care. You may contact them at 309-829-8122 or stop in their showroom at 716 E. Empire, Ste 2.