Although the therapy with a sleep apnoea mask is very effective when used correctly and considerably improves both the quality of life and the life expectancy of the patient through a better regenerated body, one must first get used to its peculiarities. As with any other therapy, undesirable side effects may occur.
Breathingproblems: Breathing out against the airflow of the mask is more difficult than normal. Especially at the beginning of the therapy, this can cause night-time panic attacks or a feeling of suffocation. Chest or lung pain can also occur due to the increased breathing effort.
Intolerance of the pressure: Even the actual core of the treatment, the ventilation overpressure, is not always well tolerated. A feeling of bloating can occur due to the air supplied.
Dry mucous membranes: Some patients also complain of dry mucous membranes in the mouth and nose or a blocked nose due to artificial ventilation. In such cases, the problem can be solved by additionally humidifying the supplied air. Such humidifiers with integrated water tanks are usually included on the suppliers' pages.
Skin reactions: In addition, some patients experience pressure points on the face as well as skin reactions due to the foreign body. In this case, additional padding or a change of material can be used.