Catching Z's 
The CPAP Z Blog

Sleep. Sleep, where I get lost nightly. Sleep, where I recharge for tomorrow. Sleep, where my mind drifts where it wants to without my consent. Sleep, where I still have visions of you. Sleep, where I go to get away from those visions. Sleep, where I realize that I can't get away from those visions. Sleep, where I travel to far-away lands. Sleep, where I travel downstairs to my fridge. Sleep, where I find myself in my kitchen not knowing how I got there. Sleep, where I must h

One thing that has always been on my mind, for most of my life, is the idea that the best sleep you can get sometimes happens in the most unlikely of places. For example: hands down, no questions asked the best sleep I have ever gotten in my life is when you find a crappy Motel 6 or similar lodging on the road in the middle of nowhere during a road trip after a long days' worth of driving. There is just something about it, I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's the days' wor

We've all been there: it's been 4 hours and you are still lying awake at night on your 100th toss and turn. Sleep seems impossible, and you have tried everything you could think of to try to sleep. Daylight approaches inch by inch, second by second, wondering, "Have I tried everything?" I have found it depends from person to person, but I feel that methods to help one fall asleep are quite abundant. It's almost something you won't run out of ideas for, and even the most absur

Think about if you can answer this question: Do you really consciously know when you are actively falling asleep? Can you lay there while you are sleeping and tell yourself' "Okay, I'm falling asleep now and I will be dreaming in a few minutes." I bet very few if anyone can actually know and sense this. My real question is why don't we know of, or consciously feel the drift off to sleep while it is happening? For I'm sure most of us, it starts out with us lying there, maaaay

The price of portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) ranges from approximately 1995.00 to about $4995.00. Used POCs are less expensive, ranging from approximately $600.00 to about $2000.00. When purchasing a used POC, be sure to buy a certified or warrantied unit from a reputable company.

Reusable filters should be replaced every 6 months and disposable filters should be replaced every 2 weeks. If filters are damaged or very dirty, they should be replaced more often.

Ever since I was a small child, it has always been hard for me to wind down when trying to fall sleep. The flashback of your day, then the inevitable flash forward to tomorrow, and then about that project you've been working on, so on and so forth, then before you know it, it's 5:00AM and the drift to Slumberland is far overdue, and quite possibly, the day you flash forwarded to looks impossible. Well, maybe that's just me, but if you are like me, music has been such a wonder

Sieve canisters are the main component of oxygen concentrators. Their function is to purify room air by adsorbing the nitrogen in the air while allowing oxygen to pass through and collect in a chamber for delivery to the patient.

As the motor is the primary functional component of your cpap, it accumulates continuous wear and tear with regular usage. Although the motor is designed for such usage, it will eventually fail and need to be replaced.

A humidifier should not be used when a POC is in pulse mode because water can travel backward into your machine between pulses and cause internal damage to your machine.

Acceptable cleaning solutions include mild soap and warm water, vinegar and water solutions, and some detergents manufactured for hospitals and laboratories. Resmed recommends cleaning your mask cushion daily, your mask frame weekly, and your tubing weekly. Your water tank should be rinsed daily and cleaned weekly.

There is a wide range of warranties for portable oxygen concentrators (POC). The most comprehensive warranty is the Caire Sequal Eclipse 5 (3-year machine, 3-year sieve canisters, 1-year battery), followed by the GCE Zen-O (3-year machine and 2-year sieve canisters).

The most common type of CPAP is one that automatically adjusts air flow during inhalation and exhalation. The auto CPAP (APAP) models, such as the Luna G3/G3X and the Resmed Airsense 10/11, are typically priced between $739.00 (G3) and $1004.00 (Air11).

While most provide only pulses of oxygen, there are a number of POCs that have continuous flow settings, including the GCE Zen-O, the O2 Concepts Oxlife Independence, the Caire Sequal Eclipse 5, and the Respironics SimplyGo.

Your CPAP water tank should be replaced every 6 months.

The battery life of a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) can vary from about 45 minutes to more than 12 hours, depending on the size of the device and how much oxygen it is delivering.

The React Health Luna G3X is the only cpap on the market that offers a standard 5-year warranty.

Portable oxygen concentrators can be repaired and kept running for many years.