RE: CPAP Air Filters
This gave me a thought about the cpap concentrating the air, and therefore you concentrate the amount of whatever else is in the air, dust pollen etc.
The tech heads here would know. But does it really. Think about it. We only need so much air, cpap or not. Are you increasing the amount of air you need to breath with a cpap? You can't breath in more than you need, other wise hyperventilate. So you do breath in the same amount cpap or not. So with or without a cpap, your going to inhale the same amount of whatever is in the air. People who don't use cpaps are breathing in all the dust pollen mold or whatever your space has. Cpaps through air pressure, open your airway, but until you inhale, does not enter your lungs. You only breath in what you would need. I don't see how it would increase the amount of particulates in the air because of that with or without a cpap.
As far as protecting the machine, I get it. But after quite a long time of struggling with pressures and such, and not being able to get the results I need, I'll try anything to wake up with a clear head, a restful nights sleep. Tech heads??????
RE: CPAP Air Filters
If there's noticable increases in airflow with the filters off, the filters need to be replaced in my opinion. Just like I wouldn't drive my van without an air filter, my PAP has a clean filter in place always.
It makes me wonder why increasing settings don't help but removal of the filters do and that this increased flow sans filters brings flow up to where you're more comfortable. It makes me think the correct settings aren't being adjusted or that an incorrect pressures setup is in place.
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RE: CPAP Air Filters
Jeremy,
If you are still using a minimum pressure of 4.5 - 5, this could be the reason you feel like you are not getting enough air. We call it being "air starved." It has little to do with the filter.
If the manufacturers thought their cpaps didn't need an air filter... well they wouldn't have made them with one.
The air filter is mainly there to protect the machine's motor from dust particles in the air.
Suggestion: Put your filter back in the Cpap, set minimum pressure to 7cm. Set CFlex to 2.
RE: CPAP Air Filters
But you still have not addressed the question. It's like, lets say, a garden hose. The hose pressure is 30 psi, but nothing flows until you open the nozzle. The cpap creates the pressure, like a garden hose, but does nothing but expand the hose with pressure until it's opened, right?
Same idea with air. I don't know man, all I do know is it 'f e e l s' better. Easier to breath, in and out. Like I said, I've tried increasing pressures etc. It does not work like this does. And at this point, other than protecting the machine, don't see how your not going to inhale the same amount of particulates that you would otherwise without a cpap machine at all, other than the filter (but that's only going to stop dust.)
RE: CPAP Air Filters
If you have a ceiling fan, you have undoubtedly seen the accumulation of gunk on the fan blade's leading edge. Without using a filter on your CPAP, its impeller will experience the same thing over time. This will ultimately reduce its efficiency and its lifespan. The bottom line is, it's your machine and your money, do what you want.
- Red
RE: CPAP Air Filters
Jeremy, could you post some charts so we have data to base our discussion on. Show us.
Most adults are, as noted above, "Air-Starved" at low pressures. Personally, I cannot tolerate any (inhale) pressure under 10. On your machine set a higher pressure, and you may need to go higher than Opal's 7, but that is a good place to start and use a Flex of 2 to drop the exhale pressure. Try it, and yes I know it can be counterintuitive.
To get a practical idea of the pressures involved, get a tall glass of water, a straw and blow bubbles. At 4 inches deep you have 10 cmw which is higher than your pressure, at 8 inches deep that is the max pressure your CPAP is capable of producing. I'll bet you will not have any issues doing this. CPAP's are really very low pressure machines.
RE: CPAP Air Filters
Gideon,
Jeremy has the DS 200 series cpap, so... no data.