Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a common sleep apnea treatment that works by blowing pressurized air into a person&#;s upper airway. The air can be delivered through a nasal mask that covers just the nose, or a full-face mask covering both the nose and mouth.
Nasal CPAP masks tend to be more minimalist than full-face masks, and they can be further broken down into regular nasal masks and nasal pillow masks. Standard nasal masks form a seal extending from the bridge of the nose to just above the mouth, though some nasal cradle models sit below the nose and seal against the nostrils. Nasal pillow masks have soft inserts that seal inside the nostrils.
Choosing a mask that fits well can lower your chances of experiencing air leaks or discomfort. We&#;ll discuss the benefits of a nasal CPAP mask and how to know if it&#;s right for you. We&#;ll also explore the differences between nasal and nasal pillow masks, discuss factors to consider when choosing a mask, and share our recommendations for the best nasal CPAP masks.
If you&#;re in the market for a CPAP machine to pair with a mask, check out our team&#;s picks for the best CPAP machines of .
Experts consider nasal masks to be the best type of CPAP mask for most people. Nasal masks tend to be more effective at reducing lapses in breathing, and they may feel less oppressive, as they often have fewer straps than a full-face mask.
You may benefit from using a nasal CPAP mask if you:
High-pressure airflow can be uncomfortable when delivered through nasal pillows due to the more direct stream of air. If you use CPAP therapy above 12 centimeters of water pressure (cm H2O), you may prefer a traditional nasal mask or a full-face mask. A full-face CPAP mask is less likely to cause air leaks if you breathe through your mouth while sleeping, whether due to nasal congestion or other factors.
Nasal and nasal pillow masks seem to be equally effective at providing CPAP therapy for obstructive sleep apnea. A nasal mask interface rests over the opening of the nostrils, whereas nasal pillow masks contain small inserts that seal inside the nostrils themselves.
Some sleepers find that nasal pillow masks stay in place better and are more compatible with facial hair. On the other hand, nasal pillow masks may be less comfortable at higher pressure settings.
When choosing a CPAP mask, you&#;ll need to consider practical matters such as compatibility with your CPAP machine, as well as personal factors such as your preferred sleeping position, the shape of your face, and the recommendations of your health care team based on your diagnosis.
Your health care team should be your main point of guidance when choosing a CPAP mask. They understand what you need from CPAP therapy and can recommend masks that match your profile.
Traditional nasal CPAP masks lend themselves well to back and side sleeping. Since they take up less space on the face, they are less likely to catch on bedding compared with a full-face mask. Stomach sleepers typically fare better with the minimalist footprint of a nasal pillow mask.
A mask that leaks or causes pressure sores can cause CPAP therapy to be less effective or lead to you not wanting to wear the mask at all. Nasal masks are usually sold with several different cushion sizes. Some manufacturers provide printable mask fit guides online to help you select the best fit. You may need to try several different models before finding one that works for the shape of your face.
CPAP masks are generally designed to be compatible with all CPAP machines and hoses that use a standard 22-millimeter cuff connector, but some models may only work with items from the same product line. Before making your purchase, check the user guide for compatibility with your CPAP machine and tubing. You may be able to purchase a hose adapter if you use tubing with a different diameter.
Most masks include the mask frame, a cushion or nasal pillows, headgear, and an attachment to connect to CPAP tubing. In the case of nasal masks, tubing typically attaches in the front of the face, although some models have top-of-head hose attachments designed for active sleepers. The tubing itself is sold separately, as are the CPAP machine and related accessories such as filters.
To protect shoppers against construction flaws, most CPAP masks come with a warranty. Three months is a typical warranty length. You can check the warranty information on the manufacturer&#;s website.
Since CPAP masks are medical equipment, manufacturers will issue an official product recall if they detect any problems with the mask. In the event of a recall, talk to your doctor to see if the issues apply to you. You may need to return the mask and request a replacement, which the manufacturer will usually provide.
Nasal masks are sold online and in brick-and-mortar stores. You may also be able to obtain a mask through your doctor or sleep clinic.
Nasal masks typically run between $50 and $175, while nasal pillow masks can set you back between $70 and $120. Bear in mind that mask components need to be replaced on a regular basis, which adds to the overall cost. Because mask fit is so important to the success of CPAP treatment, we recommend not letting price be the driving factor, if possible.
While replacement parts can be purchased without a prescription, you do need a prescription to buy a complete CPAP mask, which is considered a Class II medical device. Most online retailers have a system for uploading your prescription if it&#;s not already on file.
For more information, please visit Nekon.
Many insurance providers, including Medicare and Medicaid, subsidize a portion of the cost of CPAP equipment, though you may need to agree to a rent-to-own arrangement. To remain eligible for coverage, your insurer may ask to see your CPAP usage data so they can confirm you are using your CPAP system on a regular basis.
If you and your health care team have decided that a nasal CPAP mask is not for you, check out our recommendations for different types of CPAP masks that may be a better fit for your needs.
Our team has many years of experience in the sleep industry, with a particular emphasis on products that help people get better rest. When determining our recommendations for the best nasal CPAP masks, we considered factors such as design, quality, brand reliability, price, and user reviews.
Yes, there are and the homemade face masks have been found to be effective in the absence of better alternatives. Their efficacy depends greatly on the materials used and how well the mask fits the subject&#;s face. Here are some examples:
Testing the Efficacy of Homemade Masks: Would They Protect in an Influenza Pandemic?
Yes, certainly. Some people have made a pocket where they put a disposable filter, for example, a piece of a vacuum cleaner bag cut to size. This filter is not washable (some are) so they might need to be taken out and disposed of before sanitizing the mask, then replaced with a new filter. Others have added an extra filtration layer, I used cotton batting, for example. Another improvement is using non-fusible interfacing instead of fusible, the glue in the fusible is an extra chemical which is probably not the best choice.
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The embroidered masks are certainly nice, but I do not believe they are practicable because the holes in the material defy the purpose of the mask. And if the embroidery is very dense, it is stiff and probably difficult to breathe through. I believe it is more practical to attach embroidered pieces to the exterior of the mask in a limited fashion, but I chose instead to use a printed fabric for my mask.
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In general, most resources indicate that 100% cotton is best.
In my opinion, organic fibers (cotton) are best. The mask will stay in direct contact with your face for extended periods of time, you have to make certain you are not allergic to the material. I have a number of articles about this: Organic Cotton Benefits and The Chemicals We Wear Everywhere.
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It is difficult to assess if silk is or is not organic since, unlike cotton, there are no set standards yet. So even silk sold as &#;natural 100% silk&#; may or may not have been in contact with harmful chemicals. But, if available, natural silk would probably be a good choice too. Unfortunately, natural silk is not widely available for retail purchase.
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Etsy
Amazon
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I used two types of fabric, you can use them separately or together. I used interfacing (fusible or not) and also cotton batting. More about the interfacing later, but cotton batting is a dense material, nonwoven, used normally for quilts. It is quite inexpensive and pretty easy to come by especially that the amount needed for a mask is not large. You can buy cotton batting here:
Etsy
Amazon
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Nonwoven non fusible interfacing is best. In my design I used at first fusible interfacing until someone pointed out to me &#; rightly &#; that the heat activated glue is an extra chemical that can easily be eliminated without penalty by using non-fusible interfacing. The thicker the interfacing, the more difficult it will be to breathe through it. I chose lightweight interfacing for my projects but I have heard from readers that they used also medium weight fabric too. It also depends on how thick/dense is the face of the mask and the lining.
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Yes, it does. Interfacing is a non-woven material and because of this seems to be better at filtration. The thicker the interfacing layer, the more effective the filter. However, there must be a balance between the filter thickness and the ease of breathing.
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The woven materials are the regular fabrics. They are made out of threads that are weaved together on a machine to form the fabric. Because it starts as threads, there is a space between them, comparable to the thread thickness &#; the thinner the thread, the denser can the material be, and the smaller the distances between threads. A very good explanation of &#;weaving&#; is here.
The nonwoven material is a recent development (see below the history of Pellon) and the manufacturing process does not involve weaving of threads and uses directly the much thinner fibers therefore resulting in a greater density than woven fabric for the same thickness. For a better description I recommend the following Wikipedia article: Non-woven fabric.
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I did a little research and below are examples of links on Etsy; I chose only US or UK shops for local delivery, you don&#;t want to wait 2 months for delivery from China. Amazon is also a good choice. I prefer to buy from the local fabric stores, interfacing often goes on sale and I always stock up when that happens. Below are links for online sales:
US readers: http://tidd.ly/17af344a (fusible) http://tidd.ly/21e47c53 (non-fusible)
UK readers: http://tidd.ly/190cd606 (fusible) http://tidd.ly/e8d3b205 (non-fusible)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VwqixO
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Yes, the right type is good. Pellon is a trademark and it originally described the procedure to make nonwoven materials (see www.pellonprojects.com/about/about-us/history/ ). The short answer is, any non-woven interfacing is good, and if it uses the registered trademark Pellon, then you may get the added security of a known US distributor (http://www.pellonprojects.com/about/pellon-brands/)
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You can use straps that can be tied easily behind the head. Or you can use straps with only a small piece of elastic to connect them together, minimizing the amount of elastic needed. The straps can be easily made from a ribbon or a band of material, they may or may not have an inner core (like a string, for example). In a pinch, you may even use shoelaces, as some readers have found out. New shoelaces! I have also used a 1/8&#; (3mm) soft rope. Basically, any material that can be tied behind the head and sewn onto the mask is good.
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If you have new elastic, then the answer is obvious. If you do not have new elastic, you can repurpose straps from old bras, stretchy material (some t-shirts are very stretchy), bathing suits, generally anything that has spandex in it.
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I do not believe there is a standardization for the name &#;3D mask&#;. Here is my interpretation: a 3D mask is a mask that is not simply a flat sheet of fabric. A 3D mask is built as a 3D object and is designed to conform to your natural curves (protruding nose and cheekbones, hollow cheeks perhaps). A 3D mask will not stay flat on the table because it simply is not a flat object. My masks (links at the top of the article) are such 3D objects. An N95 respirator is also a 3D mask by design. Below is an image of a 3M N95 respirator.
A 3D mask is better because it allows less air to go around the mask. It is easier to seal to the face than a simple rectangular surgical mask; your face is not straight lines. The poor fit to the face of a simple flat sheet of material is exactly the reason why adding a filter to a surgical mask would not be highly effective. The air would simply go around the mask. While the filter would indeed filter whatever little goes through it, most of the contaminants would avoid the filter altogether. By allowing less air around the mask, the 3D mask is clearly more effective.
Surgical masks have a small piece of wire that can be bent for a better fit around the nose. Both my DIY masks have a casing made from a piece of ribbon where you can insert a piece of wire. You may use floral wire, wire ribbon or a pipe cleaner. The edges of the piece of wire should be turned in.
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If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Flat Mask Machine.