+- Apnea Board Forum - CPAP | Sleep Apnea (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums)
+-- Forum: Public Area (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Public-Area)
+--- Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Main-Apnea-Board-Forum)
+--- Thread: Is CPAP effective if you're congested? (/Thread-Is-CPAP-effective-if-you-re-congested)
Pages:
1
2
RE: Is CPAP effective if you're congested? - Sleepster - 03-31-2019
(03-29-2019, 04:48 AM)StevesSp Wrote: Whatever the reason, while i am usually unable to breathe through my nose when I go to sleep, I frequently wake up later, breathing through a miraculously clear nose. Bonus!
It's likely the positive pressure being applied. It clears the passageways.
In my pre-CPAP days I had sinus surgery. I was a mouth-breather within minutes of lying down. I figure it's because the blood pressure in the nose is higher when the body is in a horizontal position. When you stand up the pressure is lowered because now your nose is about 10 cm higher than your heart. A typical CPAP pressure is on the order of 10 cm, so it could be enough to clear out the passageways in the nose.
Quote:Also, have you tried a Neti pot? I find it to help, although the effect only last for a few hours. The theory is that the warm saline flushes allergens/irritants out of the nasal passages, along with any dried mucous. I honestly don't know if those claims are true, but it helps me and there appears to be no significant downside.
When you blow your nose you remove gunk that clogs the passageways. A neti pot, or better yet the NeilMed sinus rinse kit, does the same thing, only better.
RE: Is CPAP effective if you're congested? - MitchS - 03-31-2019
I too have chronic congestion which CPAP therapy relieves. I started out with a full face mask which, among other problems, made me feel as if I wasn't able to get enough air. Nasal pillow masks open my sinus within a few minutes of starting the machine.
RE: Is CPAP effective if you're congested? - ruach - 04-03-2019
I don't have chronic congestion, but recently been dealing with a cold with congestion - and I noticed that my AHI is higher while dealing with the congestion.
RE: Is CPAP effective if you're congested? - Sleepster - 04-04-2019
(04-03-2019, 11:16 PM)ruach Wrote: I don't have chronic congestion, but recently been dealing with a cold with congestion - and I noticed that my AHI is higher while dealing with the congestion.
This is a situation where I would experiment with a heated hose. You have your own private supply of humidified air. No need to use one of those humidifiers that humidify the whole bedroom.
Unfortunately, a heated hose raises my AHI by increasing my CA's.