If you're shopping for a CPAP machine, this blog post is a great place to start. Treating your Sleep Apnea can significantly improve your quality of sleep because life is too short to be tired all the time. To avoid unnecessary stress and buyer's remorse, follow these 5 suggestions to help make your CPAP shopping experience an educated and positive one.  

1. See A Doctor

• What type of Sleep Apnea you have (eg. Obstructive Sleep Apnea or Central Sleep Apnea).
• The CPAP pressure or pressure range you require (prescribed in cmH20).
• What type of CPAP machine is required to treat your Apnea (CPAP, APAP, BiPAP, VPAP etc).

2. Do Your Research

Read and learn as much as you can about Sleep Apnea; the types of treatments available, what type of funding is available from your healthcare system, private insurance policies and how to qualify for them.  Identify popular CPAP brands and the newest CPAP models available. Research different styles and sizes of masks and read up-to-date product reviews on the products you are interested in. Make a list to help you narrow down your search. Arming yourself with knowledge about CPAP helps make informed treatment and buying decisions.

3. Visit Your Local CPAP Vendor

Whether you decide to purchase your CPAP machine in-store or online, visit your local CPAP vendor and browse through displays of various machine and mask selection. Take advantage of the ability to physically see, touch and test features of the potential products you are buying. Ask questions and utilize sales associates for their expertise. Ask for a demonstration to check for the noise level of a machine or to try on a CPAP mask to make sure the fit is right for you.

4. Do A CPAP Trial

Most CPAP vendors offer a 2-4 week trial period, allowing you to rent a CPAP machine and try out the therapy in your own home (for a nominal fee). This trial is tremendously helpful because it allows you to learn how the therapy works, how the equipment functions and what features the best help you adapt to your therapy. You will also quickly learn if a mask is fitting right -- you may switch a few times until you find a suitable face mask that is comfortable for you. At the end of the trial period, you'll have a better idea of purchasing a particular CPAP machine is right for you.

5. Set A Budget

In Canada, CPAP machines often range from $500 - $3000.  The more you are willing to pay the wider range of options: machines, masks, accessories, warranty and aftercare service provided by your CPAP vendor.  But paying more for some bells and whistles doesn't always get you better treatment.  Setting a reasonable budget helps narrow down must-haves and accessories you can forgo.

TIP: Opt for a good quality CPAP main unit with good reviews and take a pass on the travel battery until you have more experience with your starter package.  

Follow our 5 suggestions when you're ready to make a CPAP purchase and you'll have a stress-free buying experience.

If you read our previous blog on the AirMini™ then welcome to part 2 of that discussion!  For those of you who didn't: in a nutshell, we highlighted the AirMini™ travel-specific unit and listed some of the accessories and add-ons we found to be the most impressive. The goal is to help savvy customers like yourself customized a travel unit to best fit your adventurous needs.

Next up on the list, (also the last) quickly became a bestseller in the travel category - the Dreamstation Go Auto CPAP. Continue reading to learn more on which accessories are worth buying and which ones to pass on.  

Dreamstation Go

A relatively new release, the Dreamstation Go by Philips Respironics made its way onto the Canadian market (and into our hearts), spring of 2018. It was designed to be a direct competitor to the beloved and highly buzzed about AirMini™. The Dreamstation Go is a small, sleek and compact, but don't be fooled by appearances:  it weighs more than it looks.

Notable differences between the Dreamstation Go and the AirMini™ - the Dreamstation Go has a touch screen, full compatibility with all CPAP masks and compatibility to various heated and standard tubing!

Sounds good so far doesn’t it? Let’s move on to it’s accessories.

Heat/Moisture Exchanger (HME) Filter

As mentioned in our look at the AirMini™, travel units do not come with built in humidification chambers. Travel units use a waterless technology in the form of dry filters or tablets that provide moisture and heat. But Respironics does not make a waterless solution exclusive to the Dreamstation Go.  You can get a third party heat/moisture exchanger.  The HME filter accessory from the Z1™ Auto travel CPAP by HDM works pretty well on the Dreamstation.  Those filters are  certified for 7 full days of use.

Small or Medium Travel Kit

Personally, I am at the mercy of any attractively designed case or bag.  Philips Respironics has travel cases for the Dreamstation.  The smallest (below, on the left) is sturdy, stylish and rugged enough, but it is big enough to fit only the Dreamstation unit itself.  

There's a medium size case (above, centre) that's more robust and can store both the main unit and the optional battery (which we'll talk about next). Both Small and Medium Travel Kits have a zipper closure and come with a separate washable canvas bag (top, right) to house your mask and tubing.   

Dreamstation Go Overnight Battery

One of the core features of the Dreamstation Go is it’s exclusive overnight battery. Weighing in at 1.53lbs, it’s designed to match the look of the Dreamstation Go. First, remove the panel on the unit to reveal the battery port.  The overnight battery connects seamlessly to the unit, giving you about 13 hours of uninterrupted therapy (at 10cmH20 pressure) on a 4-to-5 hour charge.  

Medistrom™ Pilot-12 Lite Battery & Backup Power Supply

Although Philips Respironics makes a cordless backup and overnight battery exclusively for the Dreamstation Go, there are other options. Choice One Medical released the Medistrom™ Pilot-12 Lite as an alternative portable battery for the Dreamstation Go (also compatible with other CPAP brands and devices). A 3-hour charge with the Dreamstation AC Adapter can power up to 2 nights of therapy (on average pressure of 10 cmH20) with humidification and heated tubing disabled if using with main units.  

There you have it, that’s a wrap on the Dreamstation Go. Completely in love? We know, we are too. We hope you enjoyed our informal “part one” and “part two” ongoing discussion of the tech- filled travel CPAPs and all their accessories.

The take home message? Regardless of which travel CPAP you invest in, both machines offer consistent and reliable therapy. It truly comes down to personal preferences in brands, look, compatibility and accessories. Now leaving your CPAP therapy at home is a thing of the past.

With the advancement of technology in sleep medicine, patients with Sleep Apnea can now pick up and travel with ease. In the upcoming weeks, travel-specific CPAP machines will take center stage on our blog. We will go through our best selling travel units to help you decide which machine best suits your needs. From a short weekend camping trip to a long overseas flight, we've got you covered! Our first featured machine requires little introduction - the AirMini™ Auto Travel CPAP. 

AirMini™ 

ResMed released the incredible AirMini™ unit in Canada in the spring of 2017. It is the most compact CPAP device ever manufactured and is designed to perform like a traditional bedside device – at a fraction of the size and weight.  This AirMini™ focuses on exclusivity, only compatible with 3 ResMed style masks and 1 dedicated travel tubing. Follow us today as we customize the AirMini™ with some of the many available accessories making this travel companion more luggage-ready!

AirMini™ App

While having the app is not a requirement to operate the AirMini™, the handy AirMini™ app allows for convenient control of your device.  Download the app on iTunes or Google Play to your smart device for instant access. The app allows you to adjust a range of comfort settings and view nightly sleep data informing you how well you slept.

HumidX™ and HumidX™ Plus Moisture Tablets

Besides it's itty-bitty-ness, the AirMini™ (and all other travel CPAPs) differs from it's bigger bedside sister in one other way -  no built-in humidification.  But this machine has a solution: waterless humidification technology which ResMed calls the HumidX™ System. Exclusive to the AirMini™ device, HumidX™ and HumidX™ Plus are heat and moisture exchangers (HME for short) designed to provide comfortable and effective humidification while using therapy. Connect a HumidX™ tablet between your CPAP mask and hose for up to 30 days of moisture. More on how HMEs work in an upcoming blog.

Premium Travel Bag or Hard Case

What good is a travel-sized CPAP without its own luggage? 

The sleek and stylish premium travel bag will keep all your CPAP equipment together in one spot. It features various compartments for the AirMini™, tubing, your CPAP mask and power supply. This bag also has strategically-placed pockets for personal items and a comfortable shoulder strap. The biggest bonus of this travel bag: not only do most airlines allow it as a carry-on, it's also considered fare-exempted luggage!

Want added insurance while on the road? ResMed also offers a durable and water resistant hard case to protect the AirMini™ from spills, bumps, bruises and scratches. 

Medistrom Pilot-24 Lite™ Cordless Backup Battery  

Another popular accessory is the overnight battery; the Medistrom Pilot -24 Lite™ made by Choice One Medical.  This revolutionary pocket-sized backup power supply and portable travel battery for the AirMini™ holds up to 9 hours of juice in just a 2-3 hour charge.   Backup batteries, like this one (which is our favourite for reliability and battery life), add some piece of mind if you're trekking to remote locations (camping, RVing, boating, air travel) or where main power is not available.  Also handy during a blackout.  Recharges with the ResMed AirMini™ AC adapter. 

We can all agree technology has made its way into the world of better sleep. With such amazing new products and accessories, traveling with CPAP therapy is easier than ever.  

Another travel CPAP review next time!  Stay tuned.

Often when we get busy with our lives, our sleep tends to be one of the first thing that suffers. Work, family life and social commitments seems to come first and sleep falls to the wayside. Did you know your sleep health is vital to being healthy and is just as important, if not more than diet and exercise?  When we sleep, our bodies are regenerating, repairing and healing itself. Prolong lack of sleep will spread and erode your health in the form of chronic illness and diseases. The brain alone requires sleep to function properly – to maintain body temperature, our immune system and to keep our hormones balance. If you wake up each morning not feeling refreshed and energized, suffer from morning headaches and a constant state of excessive daytime sleepiness, have difficulty concentrating, you should consider speaking to your physician to see if a sleep test is right for you. If you have the  following symptoms and on top of that are overweight and have heart issues or family history of sleep apnea, consult your doctor immediately about getting a sleep study.

What is a sleep study? A sleep study is an overnight sleep study at a sleep clinic or a take home device that electronically records the body's activity during sleep. A report is generated on your brain activity, eye movements, heart patterns, oxygen and carbon dioxide blood levels, major muscle movements as well as breathing and snoring activity. This test can detect common sleep disorders and treatment are available.

If left untreated, sleep disorders can result in a growing number of other health issues:

• High BP
• Depression
• GERD
• Diabetes
• Frequent urination at night
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - Sleep apnea is very common in people with MS for another reason. MS attacks myelin -- the coating that surrounds and protects nerve cells. It leaves behind scars called lesions in your brain and spinal cord. Damage from MS can make it harder for your brain to control your breathing while you sleep.
• Chronic Pain

It is imperative to start a discussion with your physician if any of the signs and symptoms apply to you. Eating well and exercise won’t matter if your sleep health is deteriorating.

CPAPmachines.ca friends, family & clients,

This compelling sleep article covers the basics of sleep and what happens when we fall asleep. If you have a few minutes, take the time to read this incredible piece that appears in the August 2018 issue of National Geographic magazine called

While We Sleep, Our Mind Goes on an Amazing Journey

Written by: MICHAEL FINKEL

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/08/science-of-sleep/

When it comes to choosing the right CPAP machine for yourself, you might be wondering if there is more than a cosmetic difference between the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet and ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet “For Her” model. While their algorithms are similar, the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet For Her is optimized in small ways to help women sleep better.

The Basics

Both machines have auto mode, and the CPAP fixed pressure mode as well. 

The ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet For Her comes with a white colour faceplate with flower faceplate while the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet is a shiny black faceplate. If the white face plate with flowers bothers you on the For Her model, ResMed also gives you the option of buying a replacement silver or shiny black faceplate. 

We have had very positive feedback from our customers about how comfortable, quiet, and easy it is to travel with both the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet and ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet for Her.

All CPAP masks, whether it is the ResMed P10 or ResMed P10 for Her, the N20 nasal masks or the F20 full face masks are all fully compatible with both units. Even all masks of other manufacturers are all compatible as well. Both the heated hose, ClimatlineAir, or non-heated hose such as the ResMed slimline tubing will fit on both CPAP machines.

Both AutoSet machines also come with data capabilities to fully record detailed sleep quality reports. These reports can be viewed and generated through ResMed AirView, or by download from the SD card.

Why The ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet For Her is ideal for women

The For Her model of ResMed’s popular CPAP machine has a more sensitive flow algorithm that picks up Hypopneas/flow limitation better than the standard model. Often females have more Hypopneas and flow limitation than Males due to menopause or any hormonal imbalances.

ResMed’s pioneering women-specific algorithm used in the AirSense 10 AutoSet for Her works by increasing sensitivity to flow limitation and optimizing the response to these events. By responding to each flow-limited breath, the algorithm helps to provide comfortable therapy for women and does not let the pressure increase dramatically during the detection of these hypopneas/flow-limitation events.

This device is not just for women, however; any patients with sensitive airways or suffering from Asthma, COPD, or Emphysema would also benefit from using the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet for Her algorithm.

The Importance Of Properly Maintaining Your CPAP Machine

Routine check-ups, cleaning, filter changes, and adjustments of your CPAP range of pressures are a vital and key component to sleeping better on CPAP machine. Remember it is important to bring your CPAP machine every 6 months for a check-up. 

Like with all medical devices, it is important to make sure that the motor is delivering the right pressures. The motor function can be checked easily by your CPAP vendor or home health care provider with a pressure manometer.

Even with Auto CPAPs, it is extremely important that your CPAP pressure range constantly gets adjusted to match any weight, gain/loss and overall breathing condition changes. 

Shop for both the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet and ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet For Her on CPAPMachines.ca today. We offer the lowest prices on CPAP Machines in Canada and free shipping across the country.

Written by Simon Ho RRT, Registered Respiratory Therapist

Thank you so much Canada, for all your feedback on our previous blog showing the similarities and differences between AirSense 10 Auto and Dreamstation Auto. You all had great points of why each of you preferred one unit over another. We've complied some of your suggestions and input and the results still show they are very comparable units. Take a look at your input on the chart above.

1.  Maintain regularity - wake up and go to bed at the same time everyday.
2. Create a dark sleeping atmosphere to encourage the release of melatonin before bed.
3. Create a cool sleeping environment (18 degrees celsius) to initiate good sleep.
4. Avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime.
5. Do not stay in bed awake. Watch Matthew Walker, one of our favourite professor of neuroscience and psychology speak about these sleeping tips.

By Arthur Allen, WebMD Feature Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, DO, MS

Clues You Might Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Do you wake up in the morning with a headache, feeling just as tired as when you went to sleep? Has your spouse moved to the room next door, exhausted by listening to you snore, gasp, and choke every night?

If so, you may have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) -- a condition where the upper passages of your airway close off, interrupting your breathing and depriving you of oxygen until you wake up and start breathing again. Sleep apnea affects more than 18 million American adults.

How can you tell if you have sleep apnea? The only real way is to have a sleep study, a test that records what happens while you sleep. But there are some common signs of sleep apnea, experts say.

The three main warning signs of obstructive sleep apnea are:

• Loud, persistent snoring
• Pauses in breathing, accompanied with gasping episodes when sleeping
• Excessive sleepiness during waking hours

• Should everyone who snores see a sleep specialist? No, say the experts. “Most people who snore don’t have obstructive sleep apnea, but most people who have apnea snore,” says Robert L. Owens, MD, of the Sleep Disorders Research Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. If you have chronic snoring that is loud enough to wake a bed partner, talk to your doctor.

  Like snoring, the most definitive sign of sleep apnea -- waking up to breathe -- is often witnessed by a bed partner. People with sleep apnea frequently wake up for a few seconds to gasp for air. This can happen hundreds of times a night in people with severe sleep apnea, Owens says.

  “If someone witnesses you waking up repeatedly at night, it’s very suggestive of obstructive sleep apnea,” he tells WebMD. “Increasingly, I get wives who come in with little movies on their cell phones that show what their husband looks like at night. That’s very convincing.”

  If you don’t have a bed partner to catch your gasping or snoring on camera, the only signs of sleep apnea you may notice are morning headaches or extreme sleepiness during the day, says Lisa Shives, MD, medical director of Northshore Sleep Medicine in Evanston, Ill.

  Sleep specialists use the Epsworth Sleepiness Scale to measure daytime sleepiness. People with extreme sleep apnea are likely to doze off in the middle of meals or conversations, Shives tells WebMD. Moderate daytime sleepiness, such as the desire to take an afternoon nap, doesn’t necessarily mean you have obstructive sleep apnea.

If you wake up with a very dry mouth and gummy front teeth, it may also be a sign of sleep apnea, Shives says. “My little phrase is, ‘It’s very hard to gasp through your nose.’ People who have obstructive sleep apnea tend to sleep with their mouths open.”