Tips on Purchasing Your First CPAP Device

Tips on Purchasing Your First CPAP Device
By Admin
You’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea and now need to choose a PAP therapy device, a mask, and whatever accessories you may need to make the treatment more comfortable and effective. Where should you begin? We’ll tell you. You should always begin by seeking help from a medical professional or a specialist in the field. If you are making your purchase online, a knowledgeable DME (durable medical equipment) provider can help you find the best machine for your needs, including mask fittings and preferences. If you are making a purchase on the SistemmaCPAP.com website, we are always available by phone, via chat, or through email at support@sistemmacpap.com. If we are not immediately available, please leave a message and we will respond within 24 hours. To make things simple, most retailers provide starter kits that include a machine, a mask, and cleaning products or other accessories. But if you’d like to create your own setup, here are a few things to consider before making your purchase.The Research
When starting PAP therapy for the first time, make sure to do your research. Look up the manufacturers, the retailers, the device ratings, and any other information about sleep apnea and PAP therapy that can help you make a decision. Some things, such as the preference for full-face masks among patients who move or reposition themselves during the night, are helpful to consider when making a first purchase. But you will only learn such information by reading, or if you prefer, watching videos. These days there is an overwhelming amount of information available, so keep your reading focused on the most relevant subjects for a beginning patient. Once you learn the basics, you’ll be on your way to becoming a pro.The Cost
PAP therapy devices are advanced durable healthcare equipment, and therefore not cheap, but getting a copay from an insurance company or making your purchase from an online retailer can greatly reduce the financial burden. But if pricing is a problem for you, consider a used and refurbished system. By law, used therapy devices must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized using the most advanced cleaning systems available before sale, and contamination is rare. In fact, it is likely easier to contaminate your own device than become sick from a legitimate sale of a used one. The price range for a new CPAP machine is about $400 to $800, with APAP going up a little further to between $600 and $1,000. A BiPAP device can cost anywhere between $1,000 to $2,000 on the standard market. By comparison, a used device will be at least 30 to 50 percent less from most retailers and DME providers. Before you make your purchase, take all of this into consideration and decide what is best for you. A PAP therapy system is more than a simple purchase of a product. It is an investment in your health and wellbeing, likely to be by your side for years to come.The Machines
PAP therapy devices come in three main types. There are other types, as described below, but the majority of initial purchases will be for the following:- CPAP machines, which use the original mode of continuous positive airway pressure. This is the standard machine type with a single pressure setting.
- APAP machines, which use automated positive airway pressure, providing different pressure settings that change according to patient needs.
- BiPAP (or BiLevel) machines, which use alternating pressure settings. A higher setting is for inhalation and a lower setting is for exhalation. These machines are for those patients who have difficulty exhaling against pressure.
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