Technorati Tags: Countries, CPAP, Cpap Machine, Cpap Machines, Respironics, Serious Research

For anyone with sleep apnea, CPAPs are a way of life. CPAP machines treat sleep apnea and allow people with sleep apnea to sleep normally. Since the CPAP machine must be used every night, it is important to have CPAP masks which are comfortable. Fortunately there are a wide variety of masks available.

Full Face Masks and Nasal Masks

CPAP masks comes in two major varieties. There are full face masks, which cover the nose and mouth, and there are nasal masks that only cover the nose. Which one is necessary varies on a patient to patient basis, dependent on their nighttime breathing patterns. If the patient occasionally or frequently breathes through his or her mouth while sleeping, a full face mask will probably be necessary. On the other hand, if the patient only breathes through his or her nose during sleep, then a nasal mask would probably be the best option.

Full face masks and nasal masks function the same way, full face masks simply cover the patient’s mouth in addition to covering his or her nose. However, because they are smaller, nasal masks tend to be more comfortable. Given the option between a CPAP full face mask and a CPAP nasal mask, most patients would pick a nasal mask.

Hard Plastic Masks and Cloth Masks

While many CPAP masks are hard plastic, these usually aren’t the most comfortable. There are several variations available to provide CPAP users the ability to find a mask that they find comfortable. Hard plastic masks with gel pads on them are one option. The gel pads are on the part of the mask which comes into contact with the face, and this makes the mask more comfortable by dispersing some of the pressure between the mask and the user’s face.

Cloth masks are another option. These masks are made of cloth instead of being made of hard plastic. Since they are made of a softer material, they are less bulky. Also they can be more comfortable for patients who sleep on their side, because of their malleability.

Nasal Pillows

Nose pillows are a popular option among many CPAP users. Nose pillows are a type of nasal mask which involves small cloth nasal pillows which go over the user’s nose. The patient can breathe through these plugs because they are porous enough to allow air to pass through them. Because there is not an actual mask covering the nose, many people find these to be the most comfortable.

There are Many Options to Chose from when Looking for a CPAP Mask

Whether a patient prefers a full face mask or nasal pillows, there are plenty of options available for everyone. If you or someone you know is unhappy with their CPAP mask, check out some of the other options. You’ll be surprised what you can find.

Technorati Tags: Breathing Patterns, CPAP, Cpap Full Face Mask, Cpap Machine, Cpap Machines, Cpap Mask, Cpap Masks, Cpap Users, Current, Face Cloth, Face Masks, Full Face Mask, Nasal Mask, Patient Basis, People, Shapes And Sizes, Sleep, Sleep Apnea, Variations, Variety, Way Of Life

The manufacturer’s feel that the online companies are hurting the value of their products by selling them at very low prices.  The brick and mortar small medical supply businesses find that they can buy this equipment cheaper online from other dealers, than from the manufacturer’s sales reps.  Naturally this is where the complaints originated. The sales reps began to complain about the loss in sales and commission.  Instead of raising the prices of the products to the online retailers, the manufacturer’s created policies that dictate how the online retailers must list their products online, and in other advertising campaigns.  Volume sales does not affect the MAP prices, so all Internet companies have the same MAP pricing guidelines.  If this were the case for all items customers buy, then there would be no need for Home Depot or Wal-Mart.  If everyone had to sell the items at the same minimum price, then you would be able to walk into a mom and pop hardware store and get the same low price that you would get from Lowe’s or Home Depot.  Unfortunately, that is not how the free enterprise system works best, and it is not favorable to most shoppers.   Most customers want the lowest possible price.

The online CPAP retailers, like YouNeedSleep (dot) com disagree with the MAP policy’s effectiveness, and they feel that it only hurts the customer.  There are dozens of manufacturer’s that make CPAP equipment.  Only the “big three” manufacturer’s have come up with some sort of pricing guidelines.  All that this has done is shifted the online sales over to the smaller manufacturer’s products that do not have these pricing standards.  Philips Respironics used to be the number one product sold at Express CPAP Supply, for example, but now it is one of the slowest sellers.  What used to be about 85% of their business, now is probably only about 5%.  So now it is the sales reps of the online stores that are getting hit with the lower commission and lack of sales.  Customers who go online to buy their equipment, usually do not have insurance, and they usually want to pay the absolute lowest price.  They often shop around to find the best price.  The average shopper would prefer to buy a lesser known brand for half the price.  Especially when both products offer similar features and the same exact warranty.

How can the customer get around these policies if they want to buy at the lowest possible price?  The answer is simple, yet complicated.  The reason most people shop online is so that they can make the purchase quickly, from the comfort of their own home, without having to “talk” to a real person.  They usually want to shop around and then check out online, using a credit card.  They scroll thru the items that they are interested in, looking for the lowest prices or the best deals.  The MAP policy pricing keeps the customers away from looking at the higher priced machines, therefore, the customer usually decides between one of the lower priced options.   Just about the only way to get the MAP products at lower prices is to look around at the website, find what you want, and either email the web-store and ask for the low price, or to get out your cell phone, use your minutes, get a recording, wait on hold, or if you are lucky, talk to a real person.  Then you are faced with looking online at the same time you are speaking with a customer service person.  That can be very confusing when you are looking at a MAP price online, and the person is offering you a lower price over the phone.  Most of the time, you will need to complete the transaction over the phone to get these lower prices.  That causes the customer to give their credit card numbers out over the phone, which some people are not comfortable with.  The manufacturer’s don’t have a problem with the online retailers selling the items for less than the MAP price, they just cannot “advertise” the lower price.   Basically, it just becomes an inconvenience for the customer.

Therefore, the best way to save money while buying your CPAP equipment online is to not actually buy it online.   If you suspect that the item has MAP pricing (usually the product is listed 40-60% higher than the other products), then you should take the time to call and find out what the actual sales price is for that product.  Most of the time, it is very close to the price of the lower end units…  If you are buying a complete system (CPAP machine, Heated Humidifier, Mask & Headgear), you could save $100 or more by taking the time to make the phone call.

Technorati Tags: Advertising Campaigns, Brick And Mortar, Commerce Web, CPAP, Cpap Equipment, Cpap Machines, Free Enterprise System, Hardware Store, Home Depot, How To Save Money, Internet Companies, Lowe S, Lowest Possible Price, Medical Supply Businesses, Online Retailers, S Sales, Sales Reps, Sleep Apnea Equipment, Volume Sales, Wal Mart, Web Stores

BiPAP machines are more suitable for treating obstructive sleep apnea as it contains a more sophisticated compressor than CPAP Machines, enabling them to provide two levels of air pressure to the patient while they are sleeping. Many patients find this to be more comfortable than the constant pressure provided by CPAP machines.
To make you better understand CPAP Machines provides one constant pressure to the patient where as BiPAP Machines provides two levels of pressure: one for inhalation and a lower pressure during exhalation.
Both are the electric device containing a compressor connected to a long tube and a nasal mask (or nasal pillows) which are worn by the patient during the sleep. The machine delivers air with a predetermined amount of pressure to the patient’s airway through a nasal mask keeping the airway open and free of obstructions while the patient is sleeping which allows sufficient amount of air to enter the lungs and preventing apnea.
Although both BiPAP Machines and CPAP Machines are proved helpful, it should not be forgotten that it is a palliative measure, not a permanent cure. Though undoubtedly it is an effective treatment for treating snoring and sleep apnea, but we cannot always rely on machines. Also before purchasing the machine must consult your doctor about what features you will require for your unique sleep apnea.

Technorati Tags: Air Pressure, Airway Pressure, Amp, Bipap, Bipap Machines, CPAP, Cpap Machines, Cpap Masks, Fisher Paykel, Humidifiers, Inhalation, Invacare, Lungs, Medical Device, Nasal Mask, Nasal Pillows, Puritian, Resmed, Sleep, Sleep Apnea, Sleep Machines, Snoring

First, you’ll need a good understanding of how the CPAP machine works. The Respiratory Clinician at Colonial Medical Supply will instruct you on the locations of all buttons and there functions. The Clinician will help you determine the best location for the machine within the bedroom. Your CPAP machine should never be placed above your head. Placing the machine above your head may cause injury to you and may damage the machine upon falling to floor. All CPAP machines like Resmed S8 series, Respironics Remstar M series, and Fisher Paykel HC series have filters that either need to be cleaned, replaced or both. The therapist will instruct on how to clean the filters and when to replace them.  Your physician may have ordered a humidifier that is attached to your CPAP to prevent nasal dryness or congestion.  The humidifier chamber which holds only water requires regular cleaning and is occasionally replaced. Distilled water is still recommended for use in the humidifier chamber. Using distilled water will prevent minerals from building up inside the chamber.  You are offered a choice of either a six or ten foot CPAP tubing. Some patients require a longer tubing length due to bed mattresses being higher than night stands.  It is NOT recommended to use a tubing greater than twelve feet in length as you may have a decline in CPAP pressure. If your physician has ordered you a specific mask the therapist will explain the benefits and features of that mask. However, if you get a choice of nasal devices the Respiratory Clinician will explain benefits and features of many different style masks like Resmed Swift LT, Swift LT for her, Quattro, Ultra Mirage, Micro, Activa, Liberty, Respironics Comfort Gel, Comfort Select, Optilife, Profile Lite,  or Fisher Paykel Zest, Opus 360, HC405, HC406, HC432 full face mask systems. Colonial Medical Supply believes in educating patients which will lead to the best decision possible regarding there health and well-being.

Technorati Tags: Apnea, Clinician, Congestion, Cpap Machine, Cpap Machines, Decline, Fisher Paykel, Good Understanding, Hc Series, Humidifier, M Series, Mask, Mattresses, Medical Equipment Provider, Medical Supply, Minerals, Nasal Dryness, Remstar M Series, Sleep, Treatment For Sleep Apnea

Technorati Tags: Air Pressure, Airway Pressure, Breathing, Breathing Machine, Breathing Patterns, Breathing Problems, Consistent Basis, CPAP, Cpap Devices, Cpap Machines, Effective Therapy, Gentle Stream, Humidifier, Lightweight Material, Mask, Oxygen Saturation Levels, Respiratory Ailment, Rich Blood, Sleep Apnea, Sleep Disorders, Sore Throat, Sore Throats

Technorati Tags: Affliction, Airway Pressure, Breathing Work, Character Traits, Comfort Options, CPAP, Cpap Machines, Cpap Mask, Cpap Masks, First Sleep, Gel Cushions, Headaches, Lungs, Masks, Paddi, Perfect, Perfect Fit, Regimen, Sleep Apnea, Sleep Lab, Sleepers, Sleeping Disorder, Ventilator

• 6 Pack Fine Filter for Respironics M-Series CPAP machines

Product Description
6 Pack Fine Filter for Respironics M-Series CPAP machines…. More >>

Respironics Fine White Filter – 6 Pack

Technorati Tags: Cpap Machines, Filter, M Series, Product Description, Respironics

Technorati Tags: Airway Pressure, Asthma, CPAP, Cpap Machine, Cpap Machines, First Clue, Gehrig S Disease, Hospitals, Lou Gehrig, Lung Function, Lungs, Mask, Multiple Sclerosis, Oxygen, Sleep, Sleep Apnea, Temporary Cessation, Truth, Tubes

Once benefits are verified the DME provider will call the patient to inform them of the benefits and schedule an appointment to set up the CPAP equipment. Many DME providers are moving towards setting up the equipment at there business location rather than the patient home. Setting up equipment at the business location allows the patient greater access to numerous CPAP mask like the Resmed Ultra Mirage, Micro, Swift Lt, Quattro or Respironics comfort gel and comfort select.

The patient can expect the CPAP set up to take about an hour for instructions. Colonial Medical Supplies Respiratory Clinician set ups are individualized to every patient allowing the patient more time for comprehension and retention. The Respiratory Clinician will instruct the patient on how to use the machine like the Resmed Elite II ,Respironics Remstar Plus M series, or Fisher Paykel HC604 just to name a few. The Clinician will instruct on cleaning/disinfecting of supplies, and the recommended replacement schedule for those supplies. Written information like an owners manual and company recommendation are provided as additional resources to patients. Lastly, the Respiratory Clinician will follow up with patients to ensure compliance and comfort with the CPAP machine and all related supplies. Patients are encouraged to call Colonial Medical Supplies with any question about there equipment.

Technorati Tags: Airway Pressure, Business Location, Coverage Details, Cpap Equipment, Cpap Machine, Cpap Machines, Cpap Mask, Disinfecting, Dme Provider, Durable Medical Equipment, Effective Dates, Elite Ii, Fisher Paykel, M Series, Related Supplies, Respironics Remstar, Set Ups, Sleep, Time Benefits, Treatment For Sleep Apnea, Ups