[CPAP] pressures

[pilots100]

does u r pressure to the full mask, as well as u r nasal pillows apply equally?or does the full mask require additional cms of pressure?

[JudgeMental]

The answer to your question is this. The set pressure will be equal in all masks, regardless of maker or style. The pressure may appear to be a bit stronger to some people who choose to use a nasal pillows style because of the more direct input.

[jdireton]

If you use a nasal mask, the pressure is equally applied to the outside of the nose as well as the inside. You may feel some pressure in your sinuses, but the rest of the body parts that are pressurized (assuming you don't have a mouth breathing issue) are fairly robust and you likely won't "feel" anything.

If you use nasal pillows, the pressure inside your nose is at the higher xPAP pressure and the pressure outside your nose is still at atmospheric. Some people will feel this as an "inflation" or "pressure" in their nose. Usually this is inconvenient, at worst, and you'll adjust to where you won't notice it quickly.

If you use a full face mask, the pressure inside your mouth is at xPAP pressure and the pressure outside your mouth (areas outside the mask seal skirt) is still at atmospheric. I've heard the phrase "Chipmonk Cheeks" applied to the feeling of pressure in the mouth felt on the cheeks. Again, mostly inconvenient and most people adjust to it quickly.

Most modern machines will have a setting for the type of mask you use. Some have a table of settings for their (the machine manufacturers) masks, so you might have to guess if you're using a mask not made by the company. My guess is this setting lets the machine know what the normal leak rate (purge through vents) is for that type of mask as well as tweaks some of the settings based on the flow characteristics of that type mask to optimize treatment.

Now matter what, the pressure supplied will be correct! Don't worry about that. The way you feel the pressure in your face and your sinuses may change with different masks, giving you the feeling that the pressure is "stronger" or "weaker." I'd never recommend anyone change their pressure based on this feeling. If it is too uncomfortable, look for a different mask. Even in the same style (nasal mask, nasal cushions, full face), the seal systems are dramatically different.

Hope this helps!

[Sleepster]

Some CPAP machines adjust the pressure slightly based on the type of mask. This is what the System One Resistance setting is for on the Philips-Respironics machines. I'm pretty sure ResMed machines make the same adjustments when you enter the mask type into the machine's memory.

These adjustments are small, I think. At most maybe 0.5 cm.

[trish6hundred]

Hi pilots100, WELCOME! to the forum.!

[zonk]

does u r pressure to the full mask, as well as u r nasal pillows apply equally?or does the full mask require additional cms of pressure?

It might feel more pressure with nasal pillows as opposed to full face as full face cover larger area and prone to leaks
Make sure to select the correct type of mask that you,re using so the S9 can works out mask leak rates providing its Not the S9 Escape