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Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can affect your health, the quality of your life and your relationships. Fortunately, there are successful treatments for it. We have already talked about Continuous Positive Air Pressure machines, which are a way of treating sleep apnea at home. To use those machines, you will need appropriate CPAP masks, and this article will tell you more about them – what to look for when buying one, different types of masks, and in the end, some great examples that might be just what you need. Let’s go!

What to consider before buying a CPAP mask

Before we get into different types of CPAP masks, here are a few things you need to take into consideration:

  • How you breathe while sleeping – you might need someone else to observe you while sleeping to determine if you breathe through the mouth, nose, or both.
  • Your sleeping position – while it is the best idea to sleep on your back while wearing any kind of CPAP mask, some mask types are more tolerable towards other sleeping positions, which is something you should definitely consider. And of course, moving a lot when sleeping will probably determine which mask you can wear.
  • Are you claustrophobic – even if you don’t have full-blown claustrophobia, wearing a mask over your whole face might stop you from falling asleep.
  • Size of your head – while a bigger mask will undoubtedly be more comfortable, it might leak air, or move out of position during the night. Smaller masks, on the other hand, are not going to be as comfortable and might leave pressure marks. Make sure you pick the appropriate size and don’t be afraid to ask for adjustments.
  • Try out different attachments – these might be velcro bands, quick-release clips, chinstraps, heated humidifiers, mask liners, whatever makes it more comfortable to wear your mask. Rember, you need to wear it every single night, without exceptions, not sporadically. That is the only way it’s going to help treat your sleep apnea.

Types of CPAP Masks – their advantages and disadvantages

Full face CPAP mask

These masks are best suited for people who breathe through their mouths. They cover both the nose and the mouth, creating a complete CPAP seal for both airways. These masks are also suitable for people who need higher pressure CPAP therapy, as they are able to distribute both through the nose and the mouth.

However, this mask type has some obvious drawbacks, mainly because of its size. As it covers a larger area, it is much easier to leak, and if you are a nervous sleeper that fidgets a lot, this is not the type of mask for you. Also, the size of this mask only allows sleeping on the back, nothing else. And lastly, this apparatus covers a considerable amount of face and is far from ideal for claustrophobic people.

Nasal CPAP Masks

Nasal masks cover only the nose, from its bridge, all the way down to the upper lip, to be precise. While they don’t cover the mouth, they cover more than enough to deliver higher pressure CPAP, making them a better option for people who need more pressure but don’t require their mouths covered. Also, because they cover a smaller area, and because the shape of the nose, they are much easier to fit tightly, and remain in position, even if you move a lot during sleep. And nasal masks are quite frequent, and there are a lot of different options to choose from, which makes them very flexible.

However, there are a few limitations. First, if you breathe through the mouth, you will need a full-face mask, or you might try chinstraps. And while nasal masks usually seal really good, having a lot of facial hair might interfere with the seal tightness. Also, while nasal masks are considerably smaller than full-face, they can still trigger claustrophobia in sensitive patients.

Nasal pillow CPAP masks

These masks are the smallest of all, making them ideal for patients who have problems with claustrophobia. Nasal pillows sit at the entrance of your nostrils, pushing pressurized air into them. These masks are best suited for patients who need low to medium amount of CPAP. Also, because they are so lightweight, nasal pillow CPAP masks tolerate more movement and different sleeping positions. You can also read and watch TV while wearing them.

The main drawback of nasal pillow masks is that they are unable to deliver high-pressure settings comfortably. Second, these are nose-only, and if you breathe through your mouth, or have allergies or sinus infections that prevent your nose from working correctly, this is not the option for you.

 

Our 3 Best Picks

 

Best Full-face CPAP mask – Quattro FX by ResMed

What makes this mask unique is that it tackles one of the significant problems full-face masks have, and that is obstructing the field of view. With Quattro FX, you will be able to read and watch TV while wearing, as it sits lower on your nasal bridge. This also makes it a better choice for people who hate the size of most other full-face masks.

Quattro FX is quite comfortable, and the dual-wall cushion system called SpringAir softly sits on your face, while not sacrificing efficacy – this mask is able to deliver high-pressure CPAP. For a full-face mask, this one is very flexible, and it allows head movements without breaking the seal, which is made possible by the rotating elbow.

In short ResMed Quattro FX gives you all the benefits a full-face mask has while trying to minimize the flaws, which it does successfully.

Best nasal CPAP mask: DreamWear Nasal by Philips Respironics

This mask has a revolutionary technology with a hose that sits on top of the head. This allows sleeping in different positions, making this mask suitable even for stomach sleepers.

Also, because this mask has minimal contact with your face, while still sealing tightly, it won’t leave marks. Although this is a nasal mask, it doesn’t rest over your nose, but under it. The whole frame is soft, and it won’t cause irritation along the cheeks. Also, it avoids the eyes completely, and you will have an unobstructed field of view, which is a plus for those of you who have claustrophobia, and it even allows wearing glasses.

 

Best Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask: AirFit P10 by ResMed

If you are looking for an ultra-quiet CPAP system, AirFit P10 is for you. This nasal pillow will make minimum noise, which will not only suite you, but your partner too. The exhaled air is quietly defused away from both you, and your spouse lying next to you.

AirFit P10 allows movement, as it is very flexible and lightweight. Nasal pillows will adjust to maintain the seal as you move, which makes this mask an excellent choice for people who change sleeping positions frequently. QuickFit headgear fits comfortably and is easy to adjust while giving a lot of freedom. In fact, the whole apparatus is extremely simple and easy to use, as it only has three pieces.

Conclusion

Now you know what you need to consider when browsing for a CPAP mask, and you are familiar with the different types of them. Plus, you have three terrific examples, one for each mask type. You can either take our word and buy one of those, or use them as a benchmark when comparing other masks you find.

Just remember, you can have the best CPAP machine and the most comfortable mask, but if you don’t wear it on a regular basis, it’s worth nothing. Consistency is the only treatment for your apnea, so make sure you take your CPAP therapy every night.

Joseph Levy is a self-described "techie nerd" who also loves animals. He loves staying up to date on cool gadgets and entertainment devices as well as reading and researching all about dogs. When he isn't writing, he's either taking his dog out to the beach or watching the latest Marvel flick.