In this issue:
- CPAP Supplies: Replacement v. Maintenance
- Six Degrees: “I Know Someone On CPAP”
- CPAP Tip of the Month
- Discounts & Specials
- New Products and Features
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CPAP Tip of the Month
Tired of waking up with those unsightly CPAP mask strap marks on your face? There are a couple of manufacturers that have developed products to buffer those strap from your face surface; check out mask strap pads at 1800CPAP.COM
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CPAP Supplies: Replacement v. Maintenance |
Every CPAP user has heard it time and time again; replace your CPAP supplies according to your replacement schedule. Though this statement rings true for most CPAP users, others can extend the life of their mask with simple maintenance.
All too often I have seen patients go through CPAP masks at an alarming rate and it’s not due to inferior mask design or manufacturer; it most often can be attributed to lack of proper cleaning and care. Using cleaners that are high in alkalines will break down the consistency of the mask, causing you to tighten it to preserve a good seal. This chain reaction of events tends to lead to mask frustration or feeling the need to get a new or different mask. The average life span |
of a mask is said to be 4-6 months, and our recommendations are the same but with proper care and maintenance, you can get a little more life out of your mask and that’s more money in your pocket over the long run.
CPAP accessories are not as flexible when it comes to replacement schedule, particularly machine filters. Your CPAP filter is similar to your home furnace filter; it takes room air and filters out dust and other particles. What would happen if you didn’t replace your furnace filter? That same philosophy needs to be applied when it comes to your CPAP machine, a costly expense if avoided.
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Do you have pets? We blame cats (sorry cat lovers) for the number 1 reason CPAP users need to inspect/replace their CPAP hose. Cats can’t seem to resist the temptation of batting around the hose, often causing small holes in the tubing that results in leaks and lack of therapeutic pressure. For more information on cleaning and maintenance, check out our education page http://1800cpap.com/cpapeducation.aspx.
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| Winter Specials & Discounts |
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| New Products and Features |
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Easy from the start - Respironics latest mask design offers many new answers to the challenges that CPAP users face. The unique dual-cushion design and Auto Seal technology, fitting a wide variety of users is a snap. The soft inner cushion readily adapts to facial contours to create an instant and self-adjusting seal, nearly eliminating the need for nose bridge and forehead pad adjustments. The outer cushion provides support, allowing the mask to rest lightly on the face, eliminating the need to over-tighten the headgear to achieve a suitable seal. The headgear features headgear stops for easier fitting and adjustment, which may result in a true first-time fit and fewer sealing issues.
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Click here for more information |
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Six Degrees of Separation: “I Know Someone On CPAP”
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By Robert Lee
The only comparison I can make about hearing of CPAP is the same when I first heard of this thing called the World Wide Web; you know, the web or the internet, now I think it’s called “The Net”. Anyways, I heard a little about it but didn’t know how it worked or what it was about but now it seems to be everywhere.
If I had a nickel for every time I have told someone about my CPAP and they said “Oh, I know someone that uses one of those things” I would be retired and living in Scottsdale. OK, so maybe a quarter for every time I heard it but nevertheless CPAP seems to be everywhere. I’m watching the “Sopranos”; I see Uncle Junior on CPAP. I am a fantasy football addict, so naturally I watched the comedy show “The League” and low and behold one the main characters is using a CPAP. A commercial comes on for a new show “Men of a Certain Age” and there is a comfort gel CPAP mask in the promo.
By now my conspiracy theory mind has concluded that the target market must be men, based on the shows I am watching. Wrong. I am explaining this theory to my wife over morning coffee and she informs me that she has seen CPAP on Live with Regis and Kelly and the Rosie O’Donnell show. Now that my theory is blown out of the water I guess it’s time to stop watching so much TV.
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