Choosing a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine can be challenging for those who are newly diagnosed with sleep apnea or those who are looking for a new machine. A CPAP machine is a very common sleep apnea treatment option that uses pressurized air to keep a patient’s airway open while they sleep at night. There are many on the market to choose from and each includes different features and functions to help improve overall CPAP comfort and compliance. Choosing the right machine for you is vital to the overall success of treating sleep apnea.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a person to repeatedly start and stop breathing while sleeping. If left untreated, sleep apnea can be very dangerous, as it is linked to other health problems including cardiovascular diseases, strokes, diabetes, and more. Some symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Snoring
- Waking up gasping for air
- Dry mouth in the morning
- Excessive daytime sleep
What is a CPAP Machine?
A CPAP machine is a doctor-prescribed treatment to treat sleep apnea. Although sleep apnea is not curable, the consistent use of a CPAP machine can lessen the symptoms of sleep apnea and help a sleep apnea patient sleep better. A CPAP machine delivers pressurized air through a CPAP mask to keep a person’s airway from collapsing while sleeping. This prevents snoring and gasping for the air in the middle of the night, and improves a person’s sleep health, resulting in improved daytime alertness, mood, and more.
The Best CPAP Machines of 2023
There are many factors to consider when trying to find a CPAP machine that is right for you. These factors include comfortability, noise level, user-friendliness, size, price, data tracking/reporting capability, and more. The best CPAP machines of 2023 include:
ResMed AirMini Auto Travel CPAP Machine – Best for Travel
The ResMed AirMini is the ideal option for sleep apnea patients who travel frequently. Not only is it lightweight and compact in size for easy packing and portability, but it also is FAA–approved for in-flight use, and can also be used on camping trips, cruises, and road trips. The AirMini is also feature-rich and has features like auto-adjusting pressure, AutoRamp Technology, waterless humidification, and more to give patients compliant treatment, no matter where they are. This machine even tracks and stores sleep data to assist users and their doctors in monitoring their sleep while they are on the go.
ResMed AirSense 11 Auto-Adjusting CPAP Machine – Best/Newest Technology Features
The ResMed AirSense 11 is equipped with comfort features and advanced digital health technology, designed with both new and veteran CPAP patients in mind. The features of this machine make it easier to adjust to therapy, providing features to feel comfortable and compliant all at the same time. The features of this machine include a user-friendly display screen, a built-in heated humidifier, Care Check-In feature for free coaching and assistance during therapy, advanced event detection, AutoRamp, and more. Additionally, the AirSense 11 includes ResMed’s renowned AutoSet and AutoSet for Her algorithms, and are among the most clinically published in the field of sleep-disordered breathing. These algorithms automatically adjust to each patient’s lowest therapy pressure needed for an ideal and comfortable treatment every night.
ResMed AirSense 10 Card-to-Cloud CPAP Machine – Best Value for Price
The ResMed AirSense 1o Card-to-Cloud CPAP Machine includes many of the same features as other AirSense devices, minus a modem and cellular connectivity. Instead, this machine is equipped with an SD card that stores sleep data and can be uploaded to cloud storage for your doctor’s review. However, this machine is still a great choice as it includes all the other technologies and functionalities of the original AirSense 10, including automatic pressure adjustments, user-friendly features, an integrated humidifier, and more.
Conclusion
After being diagnosed with sleep apnea, the first step to choosing the proper CPAP machine for you is to speak with your healthcare provider. They will be able to prescribe you your unique pressure settings, as well as give you their clinical opinion as to which CPAP machine could be best for you. No matter what kind of CPAP machine you are looking for, thanks to the latest designs and technological advances, there are several great options in the market for CPAP patients to choose from.
By Chris Vasta, Director of Operations at The CPAP Shop
After nearly 20 years of working with sleep apnea equipment, Chris has a deep understanding of the challenges in beginning and adhering to sleep therapy. He often provides insights on product design and functionality on various manufacturer’s prototypes and is frequently tapped to provide previews on new releases.