CPAP Blog

OK, so 1,000 people isn’t the entire population of the UK, but it’s still enough to show that a large amount of people sleep on their side, rather than their back or front. Why is this significant on a CPAP blog? Because one of the main problems with CPAP therapy isn’t particularly side-sleeper friendly. If the majority of a random 1,000 users prefer to sleep on their side, then I’d be willing to suggest that the majority of CPAP users would prefer to do the same as well. Is it possible to side-sleep while using CPAP? What is the best CPAP mask for side-sleepers? How can I improve comfort while side-sleeping with a CPAP mask? In this blog entry we try and find the answers to these common questions.

It isn’t easy though. Sleeping on your side with a CPAP mask means that the interface touches the pillow, often either breaking the seal or pushing it into your face or nose. Either way, it’s uncomfortable and far from ideal. Is there a way to make side-sleeping with CPAP more comfortable though? Yes, and there are several ways around this problem - it’s just finding out with method suits you. If you would have been part of the 69% who naturally side-sleep in that survey, then read on, as there are CPAP masks and bedding available that can make side-sleeping as natural and comfortable for those with sleep apnoea as it is for those without it.

The first solution is to use a lower-profile mask. The bigger the mask is, then the more likely it is to come into contact with the pillow. Nasal pillow CPAP masks are usually the smallest, with more compact interface than nasal cushion masks as they don’t need to sit around the nose, but rather on the nostrils. This makes side-sleeping while using CPAP much easier. Masks such as the ComfortLite 2 from Philips Respironics, for example, help to minimise contact with the pillow. The eagle-eyed cynics there will instantly notice the flaw in that sentence - “minimise”. Even minimal contact can still lead to the problems I mentioned above. No matter how small the mask is, they’re rigid, so any contact will have an effect of some sort. But there is one mask that could be able to change all that.

The mask I’m referring to is the SleepWeaver Advance CPAP Mask. It’s made of cloth, rather than plastic, and is very low profile. It’s had a great reception in the States so hopefully it will have the same positive impact for UK CPAP users. If you sleep on your side, when the mask does inevitably touch the pillow it doesn’t automatically dislodge and push into your face. As the SleepWeaver is made of soft fabric, it just changes shape as it needs to, so you don’t have the problem of it instantly dislodging - and it certainly won’t dig into your face. Is it the the best CPAP mask for side-sleepers? It depends on the individual of course, but generally speaking, I’d have to say there’s few better. However, while it is a big improvement over any other CPAP mask out there, it’s still not quite the perfect solution. Why? Because if it is pushed hard enough against a pillow, it will inevitably lose its seal (it’s not glued on, after all). The SleepWeaver is great option for nasal users, although it’s almost impossible to recommend a full -face mask for side sleepers (until they release the full-face SleepWeaver that is). They’re simply too big to allow you to naturally sleep on your side. And that’s where our last, but certainly not least, solution comes in.

So now, the moment you’ve been waiting for (drum roll please). The solution that side-sleeping CPAP users have been waiting for is here in the form of…. the Ultra CPAP Pillow! Yes, a pillow! OK so it doesn’t sound that exciting, but it works. Is it possible to side-sleep while using CPAP? It is now, and with ease. It’s a pillow shaped specifically for CPAP users, with cut out sections to allow the mask to sit in unimpeded. You get the comfort of sleeping on your side, with the security of your mask not making any contact with the pillow – no leaks, no digging in, no discomfort. Full-face users will certainly benefit the most from the Ultra CPAP Pillow, as full-face masks otherwise make side-sleeping potentially very difficult, but even those with low profile masks like the ComfortLite 2 and the SleepWeaver will benefit from the unhindered side-sleeping that the pillow brings.

One final suggestion that can make side-sleeping while using CPAP easier is a Hose Lift. Although it won’t solve any specific problems, it can make sleeping feel more natural. It lifts the hose above the bed, out of the way of your chest and arms. Often when side sleeping, the hose can get tangled or pulled on by your arms as you shift position, dislodging the mask. This is particularly common if you have your hands up by your face. With the Hose Lift it’s completely out of the way, giving you the freedom to change position more easily and naturally. It won’t be the make or break as to whether or not you can side-sleep with your CPAP set-up, but it can certainly help when combined with some of the other suggestions.

So whether you’re a foetus, a log, a yearner or even a freefaller, help is at hand. Do not resign yourself to a lifetime of unnatural sleeping positions – if you naturally tend to sleep on your side, do it. CPAP is supposed to give you a better night’s sleep, not simply solve one problem by replacing it with a different one. For side-sleepers, the right CPAP mask, such as the SleepWeaver, and the right bedding, in the form of the Ultra CPAP Pillow can make all the difference. If you’re able to sleep in the position you want to sleep in, then naturally you’ll get better quality sleep and all of the benefits that come with it. Is CPAP really worth losing sleep over?

Thanks for reading, if you have any questions or suggestions for this, or future blog entries please feel free to leave a comment below!