For some severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is now the most effective therapy option. Nevertheless, along your sleep apnea therapy journey, you can face frequent CPAP side effects, such as facial discomfort, dry or irritated airways, ulcers, and swelling in and around your nasal passages. If you have been hurt by the CPAP machine, you should get help from a cancer and lung injury claims lawyer. A good lawyer will be able to fight for you against the manufacturer and get you the compensation you deserve.
As annoying and upsetting as some of these side effects may be, using your CPAP machine consistently is the only way to fully benefit from your sleep apnea therapy. Therefore, the long-term success of treating your sleep apnea depends on identifying and resolving these issues as soon as possible.
Following are some early signs that might indicate that the CPAP machine is hurting your health;
Headaches
You might think, “Can a CPAP give you a headache?” if you wake up with a pounding throb in your temples. Untreated sleep apnea can cause morning headaches, although utilizing a CPAP machine seldom results in those side effects. Interestingly, CPAP therapy has even been shown to lessen headaches in people who often suffer from migraines. If you started CPAP therapy and subsequently had a headache, your CPAP pressure may be too high, or your equipment may be blocking your sinuses, which may result in pressure within your brain and a CPAP sinus headache.
Skin Irritation
Skin irritation is one of the potential negative effects of CPAP. It can occur due to the accumulation of facial oils below the mask cushion and excessively tight headgear. As a result, the patient might experience rashes, red skin, or blisters around the nasal area.
Dry Eyes
After using your CPAP, if you wake up with dry eyes, there may be a leak in your mask near the bridge of your nose. Your mask is either too wide or too long for your nose, and it is the most frequent cause of air leaks near the bridge of your nose.
Dry Mouth
How to prevent dry mouth with CPAP is one of the most often asked questions by those new to CPAP. Owners of nasal or nasal pillow masks commonly experience CPAP dry mouth because their mouths naturally open as they sleep, which reduces the effectiveness of their therapy because therapy air escapes while also drying out their mouth.
Nasal Dryness
A common CPAP side effect that typically points to inadequate humidification is waking up with a dry nose or congestion. You could be asking yourself, “Why am I congested from using CPAP?” The constant airflow from your CPAP machine can quickly dry out and irritate your nostrils, and for some people, it may even occasionally result in a nosebleed. Your nasal passages may be trying to build a barrier of defense in reaction by producing an excessive amount of mucus, which can result in nasal congestion that is just as uncomfortable.
Sinus Infections
New users of CPAP therapy frequently experience side effects after using their CPAP machine, including a painful throat, mucus in their throat, post-nasal drip, runny nose, and plugged ears. No matter which CPAP mask you use, sinus congestion is possible. However, using a heated humidifier replenishes moisture and lessens irritation—less irritability results in less mucus production, and fewer mucus results in less congestion.
Gas and Bloating
While not specifically related to CPAP, Aerophagia—the pain, gas, or bloating brought on by unintentionally swallowing air can also happen as a side effect during therapy. CPAP Aerophagia can be exceedingly uncomfortable, even though it’s not very frequent.
Since the CPAP machine directly interacts with your respiratory system, you shouldn’t take any of the above signs lightly. If you experience regular episodes of such symptoms, you must first consult your physician and then hire a lawyer who can file a lawsuit against the company.