If you have been diagnosed with Coronavirus and are currently managing sleep apnea, speak to your doctor about continuing your CPAP therapy. However, being diagnosed with Coronavirus does not change your sleep apnea diagnosis or your need to treat the condition. And having a good night’s sleep contributes to your overall health and helps boost your immune system to fight the virus. Here are some best practice recommendations for using your CPAP machine if you have Coronavirus.
CPAP devices are effective in treating sleep apnea. However, they cannot help you prevent contracting Coronavirus.
While infected, following a strict cleaning routine for your CPAP machine, hoses, and masks helps prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
If you use a CPAP machine with a humidifier, make sure to empty out any remaining water in the chamber daily. For optimal performance, use clean, distilled water in your humidifier at night. However, ResMed has said that if there is a shortage of distilled water, tap or bottled water may be used. It will not harm the device or add risk to the patient. However, it will require a more rigorous humidifier cleaning to prevent mineral buildup in the tub.
Wipe down your mask and other CPAP supplies every time they come into direct contact with your skin. CPAP mask cleaning wipes are specifically designed for daily cleaning. Because of your infection, a thorough cleaning of CPAP hoses, mask and headgear should be performed daily. Wash with a mild detergent and a few drops of ammonia. You can also refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations for specific cleaning of your CPAP products.
For an easier and more thorough cleaning, a CPAP cleaner and sanitizing machine is recommended. The SoClean2 Cleaner and Sanitizing Machine kills 99.9% of germs and viruses naturally, using activated oxygen, and no water or chemicals. The SoClean2 can be used to sanitize masks, headgear, tubing and humidifier water chambers.
After consulting with your physician, follow these tips to prevent spreading the virus while actively using your machine.