At The Alaska Sleep Clinic we realize that one of the most important hurdles in CPAP compliance is helping clients find a mask they can comfortably wear every night. For many patients first diagnosed with sleep apnea, wearing a mask regularly to treat their disorder can seem daunting or even intolerable. Fortunately for these patients, CPAP masks come in a variety of styles, shapes, and sizes so that just about anyone can find the perfect mask for regular nighttime use.

"There are naive questions, tedious questions, ill-phrased questions, questions put after inadequate self-criticism. But every question is a cry to understand the world. There is no such thing as a dumb question." – Carl Sagan.

When it comes to proper treatment for any health condition, patient education is often the most crucial aspect in compliance with therapy. Patients that are uninformed about their disorder and treatment options are among the first to quickly abandon therapy. It's sad to see patients go through the process of exploring their symptoms, seeking diagnosis, and getting set-up with treatment, only to discontinue treatment after a short time. And one of the biggest factors for patients quitting treatment is a lack of quality education from medical professionals about the necessity of continued therapy.

Continuous Positive Airways Pressure, or CPAP, is widely regarded as the best treatment available for obstructive sleep apnea. When properly set and consistently used, it is highly effective, though early on tolerance and compliance can be an issue. It may be easy to tell when a CPAP machine is working, but what are signs that it is not working anymore? Consider some of the major indications that your CPAP machine and equipment may need to either be adjusted or replaced. Here are some of the more typical scenarios:

Many people fear being able to sleep with a bulky CPAP mask and loud CPAP device, but this fear is unfounded. With the latest CPAP advancements, sleeping is not as bad as you may be imagining.

Travel can tempt you to not be compliant with your CPAP therapy. The overwhelming idea of packing and bringing your equipment with you can make you want to skip your CPAP while you are away.

Foregoing your CPAP therapy can be dangerous. Sleep apnea will occur whether you are on your dream vacation or at home. Without your CPAP machine, you run the risk of experiencing all the unwanted and sometimes even dangerous effects of untreated sleep apnea.

The good news is that traveling with your CPAP machine doesn’t have to be burden. There are several options, including travel-sized CPAP machines that can make it easier for you to travel.

"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." – English proverb

The old adage above speaks volumes about patient compliance with CPAP therapy. All too often we hear about patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea go through the long, arduous process of investigating their sleep troubles by having a sleep study, getting a diagnosis, receiving a CPAP machine for therapy, selecting a mask, getting educated on how to use their equipment, only to quickly abandon therapy within a few short weeks.

Many of these patients are shown the path to quality sleep and given the tools to change their declining health, but, sadly, they can't be forced to comply with treatment.

The question facing many sleep professionals becomes, "If we can't make them drink, how can we entice them?"

The only real answer is to help patients want to get better. The best way to do that is to have them get proactive about sleeping healthier by using their CPAP equipment. And getting them proactive starts with showing them how to track their own therapy progress.

We're going to be honest with you: CPAP therapy is going to be tough when you first get it prescribed to treat your sleep apnea. You might tell yourself that "it's just too difficult to tolerate", and quickly go back to your old ways of getting terrible sleep, risking long-term health conditions, and feeling tired all the time. But at least you don't have to wear a mask on your face at night with pressurized air blowing into your throat, right?

All too often patients go through the process of finally seeking help for their sleep troubles by contacting a sleep clinic, getting a consultation, having a sleep study, receiving their diagnosis, getting issued CPAP equipment, trying it for a few nights...and then quickly abandon treatment because they thought it was too tough.

It can be a little baffling to see people jump through so many hoops to get help, only to banish their CPAP device to the darkest reaches of their closet within a few days, when all they needed was a few helpful tips and tricks to make CPAP therapy a "can't sleep without it" treatment.

Here we'd like to help you arm yourself with the tools for successful CPAP therapy.

One of the most important factors in maintaining CPAP compliance is taking proper care of your CPAP equipment. In order to have successful CPAP therapy, you must be willing to make your treatment a priority in your life, and that means regularly cleaning and maintaining your CPAP equipment. Fortunately, taking proper care of your equipment is pretty easy, and not very time consuming. With a little adjustment to your regular morning routine, your device and accessories will be working at 100% efficiency to get you that much needed sleep you've been longing for.