If you are newly diagnosed with sleep apnea, there are many things you have to think about. One thing you’ll need to consider is what type of machine you will use for your CPAP therapy.

There are three different types of machines you can use to treat your sleep apnea:

Automatic CPAP machines
Fixed pressure CPAP machines
Bi-level machines

Each machine is capable of treating your sleep apnea but each one does function a bit differently. Bi-level machines are for patients with severe sleep apnea while CPAP machines are geared towards those who have mild to moderate sleep apnea. For the purpose of this article, we will be looking at auto CPAP machines and why they might be the best choice for you.

Benefits of an Auto CPAP Machine

Whether you are new to the CPAP world or a seasoned expert, you may still be wondering: Why do I need an auto CPAP? What are the advantages? This is a great question because auto CPAP machines can be a bit more costly than the standard model.

Auto machines offer a number of benefits that other machines don’t. Let’s look at two things auto CPAP machines do that other machines cannot:

Auto CPAP machines find your ideal pressure

Auto CPAP machines are programmed with a sophisticated algorithm that monitors your breathing and auto titrates the pressure it delivers based upon your breathing needs. If your health changes in any way (e.g. if you lose weight or are diagnosed with another condition), the machine will recalibrate so that it will deliver the optimal pressure without the need for another titrating study in a lab.

Therefore, one of the best features of an auto CPAP machine is that it can find your ideal pressure even if you are unsure of it. Even if you are sure of your optimal pressure at one point, the perfect pressure level for you will likely change. This is because the severity of your sleep apnea will ebb and flow over time. The constant adjustments of the auto CPAP are essential to ensure that you continue to get the most out of our CPAP therapy, even as your needs change over time.

Auto CPAP machines will cut down on your sleep testing

Individuals that are concerned they have sleep apnea have a couple different testing options. They can choose to be tested in a sleep clinic or they can do a home sleep test.

If you undergo testing in a sleep clinic, the doctor will be able to determine the exact pressure you need, but this often requires a second titrating study.

Since the auto CPAP automatically adjusts to your breathing patterns, you don’t need to know the exact amount of pressure you need. Auto CPAP machines are set to a default range of 4-20 cmH2O and will detect and accommodate all pressures within that range.This will minimize the amount of testing you need to have done to get started on your treatment. And by cutting out the need for additional (and costly) testing, this could help offset some of the extra costs of the machine.

What is the Best Auto CPAP Machine?

Auto CPAP machines provide a variable pressure range that adjusts automatically to give you the right pressure settings every night. This enhances the quality of your therapy which in turn will improve the quality of your life.

Now that you understand the advantages of choosing an auto CPAP machine, you’re probably wondering what some of the best models are. The two most popular models currently on the market are:

AirSense 10 AutoSet

How comfortable is sleeping with the AirSense?

The AirSense makes your comfort its top priority. It is whisper quiet, making for a peaceful environment for you and your sleep partner. Its integrated humidifier ensures that you won't wake up with a dry mouth or water in your mask.

But it doesn't stop there -- it goes above and beyond.

With AutoRamp and SmartStart, the AirSense will start automatically at a low pressure as soon as you put on your mask. It then ramps up the pressure to the perfect level once you are asleep, helping you drift off more comfortably. It is also perfect if you are sensitive to high pressures. With EPR (expiratory pressure relief), the AirSense reduces air pressure when you exhale to make breathing easy.

How easy is sleeping with the AirSense?

The AirSense does most of the work for you. The AirSense is auto-titrating, meaning it will automatically adjust according to your breathing instead of being set to one fixed pressure setting. That means better therapy with no extra work.

DreamStation Auto

How comfortable is sleeping with the DreamStation, both at home and on the road?

The DreamStation makes your comfort its top priority. It is the quietest CPAP machine on the market, making for a peaceful environment for you and your sleep partner. Its detachable humidifier ensures that you won't wake up with a dry mouth or sore throat.

And there's more. With the DreamStation, you can sleep comfortably at home and on the road.

With its versatile detachable humidifier, the DreamStation is perfect for both at home use and travel use. You can easily use your humidifier as normal while you are at home. However, if you are heading out on vacation or a quick business trip, you’ll probably want to ditch the humidifier so that you don't have to carry that extra weight. With the DreamStation, you can leave the humidifier at home.

How easy is sleeping and traveling with the DreamStation?

The DreamStation does most of the work for you. The DreamStation is auto-titrating, meaning it will automatically adjust according to your breathing instead of being set to one fixed pressure setting. That means better therapy with no extra work.

Better yet, monitor you sleep therapy with DreamMapper! You can track all of your sleep data at home or on the road, making this CPAP convenient and easy-to-use.

Your new CPAP could be yours for $0! Allow us to check with your insurance provider for you to find out what is covered for free.