Hello Guest, Welcome to Apnea Board !
As a guest, you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use.
To post a message, you must create a free account using a valid email address.

or Create an Account


New Posts   Today's Posts

Operating Altitude Question
#1
Operating Altitude Question
While looking at the specs for different CPAP machines, I noted that some have an Operating Altitude of Seal Level to 8500'. I ski and routinely stay at resorts at 9000' or higher; what happens past 8500'? Is there anything that can be done to improve the performance at the higher altitudes?
Post Reply Post Reply
#2
RE: Operating Altitude Question
(12-10-2012, 10:00 PM)aehjr Wrote: While looking at the specs for different CPAP machines, I noted that some have an Operating Altitude of Seal Level to 8500'. I ski and routinely stay at resorts at 9000' or higher; what happens past 8500'? Is there anything that can be done to improve the performance at the higher altitudes?

HI aehjr,

Below is a forum link where a similar situation was discussed. Maybe it will be helpful Smile

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...t=altitude
"Goodnight Chesty wherever you are!"
Post Reply Post Reply
#3
RE: Operating Altitude Question
I don,t think makes much difference at 9000 ft but maybe at 12000 or higher might need to bump up pressure a bit to compensate
start with your normal set pressure and if AHI shows any significant jump, you can increase pressure by small increment
use SleepyHead to see whats going
Post Reply Post Reply
#4
RE: Operating Altitude Question
(12-10-2012, 11:00 PM)pssnn Wrote: HI aehjr,

Below is a forum link where a similar situation was discussed. Maybe it will be helpful Smile

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...t=altitude

Thanks, pssnn.

And Semper fi.
Post Reply Post Reply
#5
RE: Operating Altitude Question
My machine also gives an 8500 ft. statement. But I have had occasions to use my machine for a total of 7 or 8 weeks at altitudes of as much as 10,500 ft. and everything seemed to be OK- I slept well, awoke rested, and the machine ran smoothly each of the times that I spent a week at high elevation. I don't believe that there is any cause for concern.

I was much more aware of the elevation during the daytime hours when I was out and about in the mountains and got short of breath when I walked uphill.

TheDuke
Post Reply Post Reply
#6
RE: Operating Altitude Question
That would be a good place for a pulse oximeter with SO2 Assistant software and data collected for Sleepyhead. You might be running into desaturation events though your BiPAP is running its heart out but not quite able to produce enough pressure at those altitudes. Some O2 to bleed into the system might be a good idea too.
Not medical oxygen though, aviation oxygen (it has a lower dewpoint and wont freeze in the regulator)
I am just guessing at this point though.
Are there any engineers in the house?

Post Reply Post Reply
#7
RE: Operating Altitude Question
I wonder what the pressure is in airliner cabins when they zoom around at 20,000 meters.
Post Reply Post Reply
#8
RE: Operating Altitude Question
(12-23-2012, 10:44 PM)JJJ Wrote: I wonder what the pressure is in airliner cabins when they zoom around at 20,000 meters.

From the World Health Organization:

Although aircraft cabins are pressurized, cabin air pressure at cruising altitude is lower than air pressure at sea level. At typical cruising altitudes in the range 11 000–12 200 m (36 000–40 000 feet), air pressure in the cabin is equivalent to the outside air pressure at 1800–2400 m (6000–8000 feet) above sea level.

This is just under the 8500 ft altitude recommendation from the manufacturer!
Sleepster

INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
Post Reply Post Reply
#9
RE: Operating Altitude Question
Maybe I am reading it wrong but it seems to contradict itself.

First: cabin air pressure at cruising altitude is lower than sea level
Second: at typical cruising altitudes, the pressure is equivalent to x ft above sea level

So which is it?
PaulaO

Take a deep breath and count to zen.




Post Reply Post Reply
#10
RE: Operating Altitude Question
(12-23-2012, 11:14 PM)PaulaO2 Wrote: Maybe I am reading it wrong but it seems to contradict itself.
First: cabin air pressure at cruising altitude is lower than sea level
Second: at typical cruising altitudes, the pressure is equivalent to x ft above sea level.
So which is it?

What Sleepster meant was that the higher you go above sea level, i.e., in a balloon without pressurization or in a car up a mountain, the lower the air pressure. So the air pressure in an airliner cabin at 40,000 feet is pressurized, but only to the equivalent of being at 8,000 feet without pressurization.
Post Reply Post Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  [Equipment] A new ResMed AirSense 10 fails to do Smart Stop when at higher altitude. mountaincat 6 540 01-28-2024, 07:40 AM
Last Post: mountaincat
  Oxygen into CPAP hose when at high altitude Lfmichel 4 543 12-20-2023, 09:39 AM
Last Post: UnicornRider
Information [Admin Note] Apnea Board now operating under SSL encryption SuperSleeper 3 1,686 06-09-2023, 11:48 PM
Last Post: SuperSleeper
  Apnea and high altitude djpax13 4 710 08-06-2022, 08:39 AM
Last Post: Sleeprider
  Low SpO2 but CPAP doesn't react - high altitude sleepfatigued 10 1,187 01-18-2022, 04:30 PM
Last Post: staceyburke
  AHI over 20 at 6000ft altitude? sunglide 5 1,029 05-10-2021, 03:06 PM
Last Post: Hydrangea
  How much should AHI increase from sea level to 6500 ft altitude? garyrgraham 16 1,723 10-15-2020, 12:53 PM
Last Post: garyrgraham


New Posts   Today's Posts


About Apnea Board

Apnea Board is an educational web site designed to empower Sleep Apnea patients.