CPAP machines send a steady flow of pressurized air into your mouth and nose to keep your upper airways open. It’s the most common treatment for sleep apnea. It also keeps you healthy and reduces the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.

Sleep apnea machines, doctors can find the right CPAP machine for your needs. Then they prescribe it, along with a mask that fits your face or mouth, a tube that connects to the machine’s motor, and straps to help hold the mask in place. Some machines have features, such as heated humidifiers, that you can use to improve comfort.

Choosing the Best Sleep Apnea Machines: A Comprehensive Guide

Your doctor or Medicare provider may check your data card periodically to make sure you’re using the CPAP correctly. They may also ask you to bring your CPAP machine to an office visit so that they can check its airflow and pressure settings to see if they need to be changed.

It’s possible to get a CPAP machine without having a sleep test, but this isn’t recommended. Without a test, you won’t know how severe your sleep apnea is or what type it is. It will also be difficult for your doctor to determine the best CPAP machine setting. If you have congestion or other problems with breathing through your nose, you might have trouble with a CPAP machine. But these problems usually go away with treatment, such as medicine, allergy treatments, or surgery.