CPAP Blog

A somewhat surreal question but it was actually asked in an online forum, this particular user wondered how a zero gravity environment would affect his CPAP machine. I don’t know whether he’s a mate of Richard Branson, about to have a space holiday, but it’s an interesting topic regardless of this person’s motives.

Others chime in and split the question in two. How does zero gravity or weightlessness affect OSA and how does it affect CPAP?

I’m not aware of any scientific research done to this effect (wrong, see below) but it doesn’t hurt theorizing about the possible outcome. As someone in that forum thread mentions, the lack of gravity could mean the airway wouldn’t collapse in the first place, avoiding apnoea events altogether. Oftentimes it is indeed the soft palate at the top of the throat collapsing down, blocking the airway so without gravity, perhaps this wouldn’t happen. But if this tissue still hangs about like something floating in space, not necessarily pulling down but perhaps left or right, it could still narrow the airpipe and cause hypopnea events, still causing trouble to the heart, blood and body in general.

As far as the CPAP is concerned, I don’t think much would differ. As long as you’re inside a spacecraft with air available for the machine to pump around, nothing changes. The humidifier chamber may need adjusting to keep water inside and I suspect the dreaded rain-out is a non-issue as water wouldn’t drop back down. But as far as the basic idea of pumping air is concerned, I can’t think of any gravitation dependent components. If you are going on a space trip, do remember to strap the CPAP to your back, or somewhere else secure. And make sure the mask fits inside the helmet.

Discover Magazine has some related tips in their article called 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Living in Space. Most importantly for CPAP users, they report that fluids move upwards so nasal congestion is a common issue for astronauts. For that reason, perhaps consider hanging upside down! At number 6, they also confirm snoring reduces when in space, referring to this journal about the effects of micro-gravity on sleep-disordered breathing. So there is research after all!

With 16 sunrises a day, you can also expect a seriously disrupted bio-rhythm. Bring some shades or use bright light therapy to combat jet lag. You can probably forget about your 9 hour lie-in. Not that you would, when on the Virgin Galactic!

In a related thread on another forum, a scuba diver asks about using CPAP in a hyperbaric chamber. One person replies saying in the documentation of his wife’s CPAP, he finds no mention of use of CPAP in high oxygen environments. If these machines aren’t tested in such settings, it is advisable to not use them there without confirming with the manufacturer.

No doubt, we’ll have more space travel tips for CPAP users later

New research, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, shows that CPAP therapy lowers cortisol in apneic patients. Cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, is known to increase blood pressure, reduce immune system activity and lower bone formation, amongst many other effects.

Doctor Vgontzas of Penn State University College of Medicine and his research partners concluded:

Nonpsychologically distressed, normally sleeping, obese men had low cortisol secretion. The cortisol secretion was slightly activated by SA and returned to low by CPAP use. The low cortisol secretion in obesity through its inferred hyposecretion of hypothalamic CRH might predispose the obese to sleep apnea.

I have to say most of this type of lingo (”hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity” anyone?) is well over my head but in the forums, we had been wondering about the more intricate details of sleep apnea and the effects of it and CPAP on the various processes in the body. Research like this piece it all together slowly.

See in the forums:

• Does CPAP change blood/oxygen relationship
• Red blood cell count
• The wake up cell

CPAP is making sleep apnoea sufferers around the world sleep again. Within a 24 hours window, these three stories reached my inbox. In each, a sleep apnoea patient describes their CPAP fortune. If you suffer from sleep apnoea, read these success stories. It could be you getting your life back too!

In TampaBays10: Woman finally enjoys a good night of sleep

So now she and Victor can enjoy the day, after both get a great night’s sleep.

“Oh, I feel great!” says Maria. “Thank the Lord, yes.”

In the Sand Mountain Reporter: Pruett won’t run again

 After the second stroke, doctors believe they were brought on by a sleep disorder called sleep apnea.

“I now sleep with a CPAP machine and feel great.”

On Lower Hudson Online: A diagnosis that can keep our roads safer

 ”Once the patient is treated, they feel like they have a new life,” Bergstein said. “It transforms their sex life, their family life, their work life.”

While Mosa conceded going to bed hooked up to a machine with a mask on isn’t sexy and it takes some getting used to, she said she won’t travel anywhere without her CPAP machine.

“If I don’t have the CPAP, I can’t sleep,” she said. “It’s amazing, what a difference it’s made. I’m clearheaded, and I’m more ambitious to do things. At this point, it’s part of my life.”

If you find more links to similar stories, please post them in the comments.