Can you use cpap with a cold

Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. If you get a cold, you might wonder if it is still safe to use your continuous positive airway pressure CPAP machine.

CPAP is an effective treatment for sleep apnea , but, if you become congested or have a sore throat or a cough, might it make this worse rather than better? The short and simple answer is that the CPAP cannot work effectively if you have a self-limiting respiratory illness that impedes breathing. The machine is meant to provide you with a pressurized stream of air to prevent airway obstruction in otherwise normally functioning lungs. Upper respiratory infections such as the common cold or influenza may make it more difficult to use CPAP.

Similar to what occurs with allergies, the nose may become congested, stuffed up, and runny. A stuffy nose may make it hard to breathe with the machine if you use a nasal mask. The discharge of mucus can also contaminate the CPAP mask, especially if you use nasal pillows. Studies suggest that there is a risk of secondary infection if microorganisms are allowed to breed and multiply on a contaminated mask.

The flow of air may also cause irritation if you have a sore throat and provoke coughing spells. Each time you cough, opening the mouth may make the incoming pressure all the more uncomfortable. As a general rule, it is fine to take a break from using CPAP if you have a cold or stuffy nose. There will be no major side effects of abruptly stopping therapy. You may find that you have a residual benefit from the treatment, even several days into the break. This is because the inflammation and swelling of the tissues in the upper airway will take time to become affected again.

Among some of the other reasons why you may consider giving CPAP a break:. If the respiratory symptoms are minor, try to continue using your CPAP. Minor nasal congestion can actually be relieved by CPAP, as the pressure helps clear the mucus and open nasal passages. Any residue would then be swallowed as you sleep. People often worry that frequent ear infections may be worsened by CPAP use.

Try not to worry; air pressure from CPAP does not travel from the throat to the inner ear via the Eustachian tube. There may be minor pressure changes, but these are usually negligible. Mucus will not be forced along these tubes and worsen the symptoms of ear infection. Try to get back to treatment as soon as you can as you recover from the cold. This probably seems obvious, but there are plenty of over-the-counter nasal sprays that clear congestion caused by the common cold or flu.

Just remember: if you choose to use an over-the-counter nasal spray, consult your physician first, especially if you suffer from high blood pressure. Certain medications, when combined with others, can have negative health effects. When using an APAP machine, the machine itself will adjust air pressure accordingly so all you have to do is sleep.

Barone cautions CPAPers before taking this step, as APAP settings sometimes require a different machine than the one you may have on hand, and can take a sleep specialist to determine the correct pressure ranges.

Congestion can leave your nose out of commission, so using a full face CPAP mask is a great option, as it allows you to breathe through your mouth while you sleep. While the air pressure blowing through the nasal mask may open your nasal passages up enough, a full face CPAP mask may be your ideal solution.

Barone has a word of caution here too. Switching from a nasal mask to a full face mask may require a higher pressure than what a person may be used to. Cleaning your CPAP equipment regularly can help stave off future infections. This is especially true if you have a nasal pillow mask, as the nasal pillow mask style makes a lot of contact with the nostrils.

It will help keep you healthier longer and make it easier to recover if you do get sick. CPAP is a great treatment for sleep apnea, and ideally should be used nightly, especially when the apnea is severe. Some may find that trying to use CPAP when severely congested can actually make their sleep worse on that night. Daniel Barone. Having a cold during the winter months is never fun, and adding CPAP therapy into the mix complicates things.

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Yes No. Obstructive Sleep Apnea OSA could be linked to triglycerides in your blood stream, a new study has found. A study in Australia looked at men of a healthy weight range that When you suffer from sleep apnea, every little adjustment can help. The issues that come from multiple sleepless nights are far beyond simply feeling tired and cranky