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  If you live with obstructive sleep apnea, there is a lot you need to familiarize yourself with. You’re working to understand your sleep disorder, the equipment you need for treatment, and key terminology that could be critical to your health. One of the key elements to consider with obstructive sleep apnea is your Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI). If this is something you’ve never considered or heard of before, you aren’t alone. Hart Medical Equipment is here to help you understand the importance of AHI and how it impacts your sleep apnea treatment.   What Is Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI)?  Obstructive sleep apnea causes your breathing to briefly cease during sleep; this pause in breathing is called an apnea event. Your apnea hypopnea index (AHI) measures how many of these events happen per hour during sleep.   What Does My Apnea Hypopnea Index Score Mean?  Simply put, the higher your apnea hypopnea index, the greater the severity of

  How often should you replace your CPAP supplies?   If you use a CPAP or BiPAP for sleep apnea therapy each night, you should be eligible for free replacement supplies through your insurance. It’s important to inspect and replace your CPAP/BiPAP supplies as often as needed to ensure a proper fit, comfort, and cleanliness. Note: the following are the industry standard recommendations which many, but not all, insurances follow. Please be sure to check with your insurance to verify how frequently you are eligible to replace your supplies!   Mask Cushions / Pillows Nasal mask cushions or nasal pillows should be replaced every 14 days. If you have a full face mask, that should be replaced every month.   Mask Frame Every 3 months is when you will want to replace your mask frame system. This allows your treatment to remain comfortable.   Mask Headgear Every 6 months, you should replace your mask headgear. You may feel you

If you’ve been a CPAP user for a while, you’re probably familiar with the common issues that all new users eventually run into. Don’t worry – we have the answers to many of your frequently asked questions. This blog is your go-to guide when you’re unsure how to fix an issue with your equipment or are curious why something unusual is happening.   Q: Do I need to bring my CPAP machine with me on short vacations or trips?  A: Whether you’re going on a two-week vacation or a weekend trip, you should always bring your CPAP machine with you. Each night that you don’t use CPAP therapy, your lungs, heart, brain and other bodily systems are strained. Make sure you stick to therapy daily regardless of where you go.  Q: Sometimes there’s water in my tubing when I wake up. Why does that happen?  A: If there’s water in your mask or tubing, your humidifier is most

You deserve a good night’s sleep which is why it’s important to properly clean your CPAP equipment to ensure you’re getting the most out of your sleep therapy and extending the life of your items. Not cleaning your equipment can lead to bacteria growth, mold exposure, equipment breakdown and allergy symptoms. Check out these 10 top tips for keeping your CPAP mask, machine and accessories clean and functioning properly:  1. Timing is Everything  You may not look forward to cleaning your CPAP equipment, so setting a calendar reminder to clean your CPAP cushion every morning may be the best solution. Every morning, make sure to clean your CPAP mask cushion as it collects oils that can degrade the quality and performance of the seal and mask. By washing it every morning, you’ll have a clean, dry mask ready to go for the night!  2. Stick to a Schedule  Cleaning

Now that you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you’ll need to find the right treatment. A CPAP machine is a common device used to treat those with sleep apnea. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a form of positive airway pressure ventilation in which a constant level of air is given to the user so that breathing does not pause throughout the night. However, staying compliant with CPAP use isn’t always easy, which is why Hart Medical Equipment is here to give you some tips to help!  Why Do I Need to Stay Compliant?  It may not seem too important, but staying compliant could be a matter of life or death. If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause many health issues such as:  Stroke  Heart failure  Type 2 diabetes  High blood pressure  Headaches  Depression  Liver problems  How Do I Stay Compliant?  1.

After discovering that you have sleep apnea, you may feel overwhelmed about the treatment and what to do post-diagnosis. We’re here to help you feel more prepared to start your sleep apnea journey on the right foot. Continue reading to learn more about the disorder, what steps to take and lifestyle changes you can implement to ease symptoms.   Sleep Apnea Rundown  Before we get into the next steps, let’s review the basics of sleep apnea. This sleep disorder causes pauses in breathing while you’re asleep, leading to symptoms like loud snoring and tiredness even after a full night of sleep. While sleep apnea can affect anyone, there are certain factors that can put you at higher risk for having it:  Obesity  Narrowed airway  Family history  Smoking  Thicker neck  Congestion  Where to Go from Here  Test Results  Now