A CPAP Machine is a useful tool that can assist patients who are struggling with sleep apnea. CPAP stands for “continuous positive airway pressure” and is designed to keep a person’s breathing tubes open while they sleep. They are one of the most popular gadgets for assisting those suffering from sleep apnea to get healthier sleep. So, can children use a CPAP machine?
Can Children Use a CPAP Machine?
Children do not suffer from sleep apnea as commonly as adults, and there are other methods that are mostly utilized to help alleviate sleep apnea in those who do. However, some children do experience sleep apnea bad enough that it warrants CPAP for sleep apnea.
What Are CPAP Masks?
CPAP masks help patients with sleep apnea sleep better due to the fact that they help to obstruct a patient’s airways during their rest. This can contribute to a healthier life overall as a patient’s sleep is enhanced over time.
Individuals with sleep apnea have throat muscles that relax too much when you are asleep. This causes the airways to become narrow and collapse and causes breathing to temporarily stop breathing. This then causes the brain to interrupt sleep in order to get the body to begin breathing. This can result in heavy disruptions to one’s sleep and general health.
There are many different types of CPAP masks, which are outfitted for different faces and types of people. Overall, selecting the right type of CPAP mask can have a large impact on the overall depth of your success. There are masks that are intended to assist those who conform to certain sleeping patterns, positions, and schedules. You can consult with your sleep doctor on what type of CPAP mask might assist your personal situation the best.
Pediatric CPAP Masks
Prescriptions for CPAP masks for children are relatively rare. However, they are prescribed often enough that CPAP masks are created specifically for children. These masks are specifically sized to fit the smaller nostrils and faces of children.
Children’s CPAP Masks also feature more open designs with a clearer field of vision. This helps children accept their CPAP therapy more readily, as less of their vision is obstructed, which many children find relaxing.
CPAP Treatment for Children
To achieve the best results, children should use their CPAP machine routinely and frequently. This is also the case for adults who are using this type of treatment. One of the trickiest parts of this style of treatment is to get children to accept their therapy and to wear the mask every night consistently.
Teenagers, in particular, can be difficult to convince to wear the mask on a consistent basis. Clearly articulating the benefits of your mask and the long-term goals of the therapy can assist you in your quest to convince your teen to comply with treatment.
Tips for Your CPAP Therapy
There are some steps and attitudes that you can hold onto that can help you make the most out of your CPAP therapy.
- Get your child comfortable with CPAP
- Ensure that your child stays consistent with their CPAP treatment
- Keep a long-term mindset for your treatment
- Keep your mask on throughout the night
Sticking to these treatments and tips can help ensure that the treatment is a success. CPAP treatment is quite safe, but it can cause discomfort in some individuals. Some examples of this include dry and stuffy noses. These types of issues can usually be controlled with things like nasal sprays and adjusting the size of one’s mask.
The Benefits of CPAP Therapy
CPAP is safe and effective and can help an individual with their overall sleep apnea issues. Some of the reported benefits of CPAP therapy includes improvements in the following:
- Sleep
- Concentration
- Cehavior in children
- Mood
CPAP therapy will improve a patient’s sleep apnea while it is utilized. However, your benefits will disappear once the therapy is halted. For this reason, consistency is key for this type of treatment.
CPAP should take your sleep apnea immediately. Most individuals will start to feel better on the day that they begin treatment – though some may have to wait longer. Having a touch of patience when you’re utilizing CPAP therapy is key to gleaning long-term results.
The Best Sleep Doctor for New York
Sleep MD NYC is one of the best resources available for New Yorkers who are trying to get their sleep apnea under control and start getting better sleep. If you’re having trouble sleeping due to sleep apnea, contact our center for sleep health today to set up an appointment to discuss your options.
