How to Avoid Swallowing Air with CPAP
Using a continuous pressured airflow (CPAP) machine certainly requires an adjustment to your sleep routine. The upside is that sleep apnea sufferers reap major benefits from using CPAP therapy. When properly used, CPAP prevents obstruction of the airways, letting patients sleep without the typical interruptions they were experiencing before seeking treatment.
Despite the many positive aspects of CPAP therapy, there some issues that you may run into while you’re getting used to sleeping with your machine. One common phenomenon is called “aerophagia,” or excessive air swallow. This is completely natural but preferably avoidable. Here is how you can avoid swallowing air with CPAP therapy, so you can get a better night’s sleep and awaken well rested.
Take Control of Your Sleep!
Sleep Apnea is frustrating! Getting the CPAP supplies you need isn’t with our amazing monthly plans that come with the name brand full-face CPAP mask of your choice plus free tubing, free filters, free cushions and free shipping! Plans start at just $36/month. Put your CPAP on autopilot today and … Leave the rest of to us!™ 30-day Fitmask™ Guarantee!
How Aerophagia Works
It’s important to note that aerophagia is not exclusive to sleep apnea sufferers and can happen to anyone. A case example of aerophagia would be someone intentionally swallowing air to belch. In the case of sleep apnea, however, swallowing air while getting used to using your CPAP machine is normal because the machine is pumping pressurized air into your airways, and your body has not yet figured out how to process it.
When this happens, the air that does not exit your air passages or enter your lungs then enters your gastrointestinal tract, where it can cause bloating and discomfort. Excessive air in this tract can also lead to flatulence, heartburn, acid reflux and other related symptoms.
Why Am I Swallowing Air with CPAP?
There are a few reasons why you could be swallowing air from your CPAP machine. First, you may need to adjust your air pressure settings. If there is excessive air with nowhere to go when the pressure is too high, but there is not enough air when the pressure is too low, you might end up overcompensating. This typically results in you swallowing air in your sleep or coughing when there is too much air.
Another reason is that the pressurized air might not be entering your airways, and you’re left overcompensating and gasping for air. This most commonly happens when your nasal passages are congested. It’s also the case for mouth breathers who are not using a full-face mask, so the apnea episodes are not being relieved properly by CPAP therapy.
Finally, you could be having a particularly difficult adjustment period with your CPAP machine. Sleep apnea patients who struggle to adapt, as well as those with claustrophobia, might find themselves hyperventilating and taking in too much air.
How Can I Avoid Aerophagia?
Preventing swallowing air from your machine could be as simple as making small adjustments. Air pressure is a good place to start. One question to ask yourself: Is the pressure too high or too low? Provided you don’t disrupt your CPAP therapy, try changing the air pressure settings, it may be the solution you’ve been seeking.
Your mask might be the culprit, too. You can try changing your mask style or fit. There are multiple mask styles that are made for the different ways people sleep. These masks range from nasal pillows that comfortably sit on your nostrils to smaller masks that are more lightweight and even masks designed specifically for side sleepers. If all else fails, schedule a consultation with your doctor. You’re certainly not the first person to have an issue with aerophagia and there is a solution to your problem. If intervening on your own fails to produce results, you’re doctor likely has a viable solution.
Take Control of Your Sleep!
Sleep Apnea is frustrating! Getting the CPAP supplies you need isn’t with our amazing monthly plans that come with the name brand full-face CPAP mask of your choice plus free tubing, free filters, free cushions and free shipping! Plans start at just $25/month. Put your CPAP on autopilot today and … Leave the rest of to us!™ 30-day Fitmask™ Guarantee!
F.A.Q.
Monthly CPAP Club is a new approach to delivering a regular and scheduled shipment of all your CPAP supplies for one low monthly cost.
We charge you a small monthly free and deliver a fresh CPAP mask, tubes, filters and cushions to your door every 3 months.
We work with the major manufacturers to provide a selection of the most popular CPAP masks, cushions, tubing, filters and other accessories.
You get one shipment with all the CPAP supplies you’ll need for the next three months and you just pay one low, monthly payment.
Monthly CPAP Club lets you know when it’s time to change your filters, clean your mask and tubing. Three months after your first order, we’ll let you know (via email) that it’s time to replace your CPAP supplies, and we will ship out a package with a replacement mask, tubing, and filters for your CPAP machine, all including in your monthly fee.
Every package allows you to choose your preferred style of CPAP mask and the brand, make and model you prefer. You have the choice of standard tubing or heated tubing. You have the option for extended tubing options with heated tubing. Every package also includes cushions for the mask and filters for your machine
We need to know which CPAP breathing machine you use so we can send you the correct filters. Filters are specific to machines.
If you don’t see your CPAP breathing machine model listed, please contact us at sales@monthlycpapclub.com. Please include the make and model of CPAP breathing machine you use.
We do support many machines. The most popular machines are listed right now and more will be added as we grow.
In the mean time, let us know which machines you use so we get you the correct filters.
Monthly CPAP Club currently offers Resmed, Respironics, and Fisher & Paykel CPAP products. We can accommodate certain other brands when requested by email. Please let us know by emailing us at sales@monthlycpapclub.com or submit a request online.
Our goal at Monthly CPAP Club is to offer all the necessary CPAP supplies for good sleep hygiene in simple, scheduled quarterly shipments.
We want the program to be even easier for the end user to afford with a monthly payment.
When you sign up for a package with Monthly CPAP Club, you will be charged the monthly package amount ranging from $30 and up, depending on your preferences.
We will ship out a package within 1 business day of your order with all the CPAP supplies you’ll need to properly treat your sleep apnea with clean and effective supplies.
The next scheduled shipment for your account will commence 3 months after your initial first shipment. We’ll send you an email your next delivery is on the way.
The best part about Monthly CPAP Club for those living with sleep apnea is that CPAP supplies are one less thing you’ll have to regularly order, schedule or pick up. We ship you the supplies you’ll need for the next three months and ship you another package in three months will all new and fresh CPAP supplies.
We do sell most of the popular and newest CPAP machines. Although we do not list many of the machines on our Monthly CPAP Club site, we can process orders for machines via email for existing subscribers and over the phone for new users.
Join The Club
Getting started is easy. Just click the button below. Choose your supplies, customize your plan and we’ll send your CPAP supplies straight to you! So take a load off and leave the rest to us!