Accessories For Your CPAP Machine

Those of you who suffer from sleep apnea have most likely either heard of, or use, a CPAP machine to control your breathing throughout the night. They offer users a convenient and safe way to monitor their respiratory problems and provide a care free nights sleep. You are probably already aware of the different styles of CPAP machines available to you, but have you taken advantage of other accessories? Truly take control of your breathing and have a look at the many accessories available to you.

Being sure that your CPAP machine is comfortable for long periods of time is crucial to having a good nights rest. Placing the mask attached to your machine over your breathing canals can cause irritation to some users. Soft padding is a great accessory to help rid the problem and prevent it from reoccurring. These are generally designed to strap right on to the CPAP mask so that the mask itself never has the chance to ever reach your soft skin.

Another comfort related accessory that can be found for CPAP machines is a CPAP specific pillow. Suddenly inviting the machine to sleep with you can be nearly impossible at first and lead to an uncomfortable night's sleep. By using a pillow designed with the proper grooves and cutouts needed to escape interaction with the machine will allow you to forget it is even there. Being comfortable is the only way you will adapt to this new habit.

Other accessories include those involving the power of the machine. Perhaps you do not have an outlet for the night or are going on a camping trip. With battery packs, or rechargeable batteries, you can count on at least a promise of a full night at ease. Other accessories even allow you to charge your machine right inside your vehicle. Especially for daily users, it can be very dangerous to go a night without their CPAP machine.

You can even fill your CPAP machine with soft, sweet aromas that offer an extra pleasant experience. These are typically very natural scents as strong, formulated smells may cause irritation. Just an easy way to enjoy your machine a little bit more.

Do not forget to keep your CPAP machine clean in the process and take advantage of cleaning accessories. Different wipes, sprays, and gels are a great way to rid any excess dirt. There are truly many accessories out there that will allow for the ideal experience. Whether it is cleanliness, comfort, or convenience your looking for you can be sure to find an accessory that is just right for you.

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What Is White Noise and How Can a White Noise Machine Help You Sleep Better

Sometimes a gentle background sound is more effective for sleep and relaxation than the complete absence of sound. Why is this? The answer probably lies in our biology. The brain notices sudden, isolated sound changes. With an absence of sound, the brain remains more active as it tries to pick out frequencies. The ringing in your ears may become more noticeable, and there is nothing to protect your sleep from a sudden disruptive burst of noise.

White noise contains all sound frequencies combined together, so the brain has a hard time focusing on a particular sound, such as a conversation in the next room or a noisy neighbor. Imagine you are having a conversation with someone in a quiet restaurant; you'll have no problem hearing them. Now imagine a room full of people all talking at once. It'll be very difficult to hear that one person, even if they are close by. The brain blends all these different voices into a constant sea of sound that approximates white noise. Distracting sounds elsewhere in the restaurant will be very hard to detect. This is the strategy used by sound machines and relaxation music. Using mechanical and/or digital sounds, they will mask out other noises with gentle and relatively unchanging background noise that will quickly become unnoticeable to you.

One thing to watch out for in choosing a sound machine is to pick one that doesn't loop. The key is randomness, not sound loops. Most electronic white noise machines do in fact loop; by looping I am referring to the playing of a short segment of sound over and over.The brain can unconsciously pick up patterns, leaving you more annoyed than asleep if you hear a sound repeating. With a sound machine that generates or creates its own sounds the brain has no repeating pattern of sound to pick up on. The result is will allow you to sleep better.

Does your baby sleep better in a running car or with the vacuum or a fan on? If so, a white noise machine sleep aid may be just the thing to aid your baby to sleep through the night and develope good sleep patterns. Helping your baby establish a regular sleep schedule can be a challenge for new parents. White noise can help your baby sleep better and be less apt to startle awake from other noises in the house. Be aware that babies have sensitive hearing and it is best to run white noise and other soothing sounds at the lowest volume that is effective.

Mike Kirtley is the author and he encourages you to visit his website at http://www.naturestapestry.com/ to find the white noise machine that is right for you.

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