Another reason to go Auto - Weather Influences Breathing

[James @ Intus]

As you know, there are fixed pressure CPAP machines and Auto-CPAP machines. The former is set at N pressure (typically 3-20 Hectopascals) and blows at that rate all nght long. The automatically adjusting CPAP machine has sensors to detect breathing events like apnoeas, snoring, hypopnoeas, flow limitations etc. to change the pressure on the fly accordingly.

The auto adjusting CPAP machines has many benefits such as it accommodating your weight fluctuations, a cold, a night on the booze etc. All of these affect your obstructive sleep apnoea and the the machine will change instantly as your needs change.

Now there are studies that look at how the weather influence breathing, specifically the atmospheric pressure affecting the airway stability. Dr Breus, who's blog I can recommned to all of you, comments on it here:

http://blogs.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/2009/05/stormy-weather-stormy-sleep.html

I'm sure the results will be published in the next few months.

So with early signs hinting that the weather influences your ability to breathe, it makes even more sense to choose a machine which has really tight pressure control and proactive as well as responsive abilities.

Has any of you ever noticed that the weather may play a part in your symptoms/

[threewheelweave]

Query regarding Sandman ref this thread?

Hi James

I take it that Covidien's Puritan Bennett Sandman Auto-CPAP matches / exceeds the point you have outlined on this thread?

In answer to your question I have noted that it seems to take more effort to breath / less benefit of CPAP in stormy weather / high humidity (when the atmosphere feels close). Is this related to what you were saying?

With all the reports and comparisons going on it appears that more authorities are taking greater notice of OSA and its links to other problems. Are we seeing the professionals at large finally taking this subject seriously?

GOOD NEWS IF THEY ARE - the more informed the general medicial profession the better for all concerned!

Thanks for your help - cheers

TWW
UK

[James @ Intus]

I'm not the one who did the research and the results don't seem to have been fully published yet as I can only find this doctor's post on it so I do not know the exact ins and outs of how this affects CPAP therapy.

But if the CPAP is meant to blow at X volume and the atmospheric pressure drops or rises, it seems obvious this would affect the volume of air the CPAP blows at. Only clever, and mostly only Auto machines measure the actual output pressure rather than a "If my pump goes this fast, we can expect this much air to come out".

The Sandman is one of those that has very precise pressure control. Like the air pressure changes with altitude and this machine compensates for it, I would also expect it to adjust to barometric changes but I haven't verified this.