What is the Point of Your CPAP (or Other PAP Machine) If You Can't Sleep With it On?
How Occupational Therapy can help you get comfortable with you PAP machine.
If you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), your doctor may have recommended a PAP machine (positive airway pressure machine). This may include CPAP, BiPAP, APAP, or ASV machines. These machines are essential to the health of individuals with OSA and effective breathing through the night, but you may find it difficult to get used to wearing your machine. The mask may feel uncomfortable, you may experience sores, irritation, or air leeks, or maybe the equipment is complicated and you feel that you don't have the support you need to effectively use it. These concerns make may make it difficult…. Or impossible for you to stick with wearing your PAP every night and you may feel overwhelmed. You know wearing your PAP is essential for your health and wellness, but what's the point if you cannot work the machine or get any sleep while wearing it?
That's where occupational therapists at Carolina Sleep Therapy can help you!
Why Your PAP Machine Matters
Sleep apnea is the result of your airway getting blocked during sleep, causing you to stop breathing for short periods of time. Over time, this puts a lot of strain on your body. Untreated (or poorly treated… such as not wearing your PAP as prescribed) OSA can raise your risk or high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, stroke, memory issues, and even accidents caused by daytime sleepiness.
Your PAP machine keeps your airway open throughout the night, so your body and brain get the oxygen and deep rest they need. Using your PAP machine regularly is one of the most powerful steps you can take to protect your health and feel better during the day.
How Occupational Therapy Can Make PAP Therapy Easier
Getting comfortable with wearing your PAP machine isn't just about the equipment - It's about building new habits, easing frustration, and finding ways to make it part of your nightly routine. Here's how occupational therapists at Carolina Sleep Therapy can help you:
Getting used to your mask: We will work with you step by step to reduce feelings of discomfort or claustrophobia.
Build your sleep routine: We will help you create simple bedtime habits that make it easier to use your machine every night.
Solve your equipment challenges: From mask leaks to skin irritation, we will problem-solve with you so you can sleep more peacefully.
Stay on track: We will give you the tools, education and encouragement to help you stay consistent, even when it feels tough.
Taking Steps Towards Better Sleep and Health
Learning to use your PAP machine comfortably can change your life. With regular use, you will likely notice more energy, clearer thinking, better mood, and less risk for serious health problems.
You don't have to figure it out alone. At Carolina Sleep Therapy, we are here to help you every step of the way. Our occupational therapists are trained to make PAP therapy easier and more comfortable so you can get the sleep - and the health - you deserve.
