If you have sleep apnea a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine can be a godsend. During sleep, the CPAP machine essentially pushes more air pressure through your throat so that the passageway remains open when you inhale. Without it, you could take a deep breath in while you sleep and your airway could collapse, leading to serious health consequences that you definitely want to avoid. Your CPAP machine is probably a very important part of your life and you want to do everything in your power to keep it working properly. Follow these basic maintenance tips and your CPAP machine should serve you well for a very long time.

Use Distilled Water In Your CPAP Machine

Many CPAP machines have a humidifier integrated into them. The humidifier portion of your unit requires water in order to work properly. Trying to use tap water in the device can be problematic because you never really know what kind of water is actually pouring out of the faucets in your home. Although the liquid may appear to be totally clear there is a chance that you live in an area with hard water. If this is the case, you should try to avoid using tap water at all costs. Minerals in hard water can build up in your humidifier and eventually damage your machine.

Try to use distilled water as much as possible. Distilled water is filtered so that many of the contaminants have been removed. This allows your machine to work with a better water supply and can allow the unit to remain in business for a much longer time.

Purchase CPAP Mask Wipes

Each night before you drift off to sleep you place the CPAP mask on your face to start receiving the influx of air. If you happen to have a cold or the flu there could be residual bacteria left on the mask when you remove it in the morning. You wouldn't want to recontaminate yourself and you definitely don't want to leave harmful bacteria on the mask itself. Purchase CPAP mask wipes and carefully wipe the mask down each day. The masks can be purchased from a local medical supply store or, for added convenience, you can buy online.

Keeping your CPAP machine in top condition is an important way for you to maintain your health. Use these tips for CPAP maintenance and if you ever experience a problem with your machine report the issue to your medical professional immediately.