How to Keep Using CPAP When You Have Nasal Congestion

Our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Said Mostafavi, suggest that CPAP users suffering from nasal congestion consider that allergies may not be the cause. In addition to seasonal allergies, changes in climate or a common cold can cause difficulty breathing at night with CPAP.

A less know cause of nasal congestion will affect some CPAP users  6 to 12 months after starting therapy. Because many sleep apnea patients are mouth breathers (due to sleep apnea), when they start using CPAP therapy, they suddenly start breathing through their nose. This “overnight” change can cause irritation and uncover nasal allergies that you may not have been aware of (read more about how nasal resistance can promote mouth breathing here).

Regardless of the cause of nasal congestion or irritation, rather than stopping CPAP therapy, consider these tips to help you continue therapy:

1. Proper humidification can reduce dryness that enhances nasal irritation and congestion

Most new CPAP machines come with a heated humidifier which gently adds moisture to the air that you breathe through your mask. Heated humidification is recommended for comfort for most patients, especially those in dry climates, over age 65 or taking medication that causes dry airways. Read more about humidification for CPAP here.

2. Try heated tubing for added heat and humidification

Heated CPAP tubing keeps the temperature of the air warm as it travels from your heated humidifier through the tubing to the mask and into your airway. Otherwise, the air loses heat and can cool drastically before it reaches your airway. Additionally, the cooling of the air can cause condensation in your tubing which can lead to “rainout” or filling your mask with water. Read more about rainout and how to prevent it here.

3. CPAP filtration can reduce or eliminate irritants in the air

Make sure that your filter is clean and replaced on a regular basis. It’s recommended that you wash your non-disposable filter at least once a week with water and allow it to dry completely before putting it back in the machine.

You can also try a hypoallergenic filter which has a tighter weave to let even fewer particles form the air into your machine.

Read more about different types of CPAP filters here.

4. Try a full face CPAP mask if you’re having a hard time breathing through your nose

Many CPAP users will switch from a pillows or nasal mask when they have nasal congestion from a cold or allergies. A full face mask covers your mouth and nose.

There’s even a mask that has a separate oral and nasal component. You can check it out here.

Learn more about the differences between these mask types here.

5. Avoid eye irritation from mask leak

Proper mask fitting is very important; however, with every mask there will still be air leak. The goal is to minimize the air leak and ensure that the air is not causing irritation in your eyes.

If you’re suffering from a cold or allergies air blowing into your eyes at night can cause additional dryness and irritation during the day.
 
In order to not let this stop your CPAP therapy, ophthalmologists recommend using thick artificial tears (gels and ointments, not thinner or less viscous teardrops) just before bedtime. It is important to treat both sleep apnea and any resulting eye irritation properly, so you should speak to your doctor.

8. Saline sprays or water can reduce congestion and irritation

Nasal spray or Neti pots use saline to help reduce congestion and irritation in the nasal passages.

7. Try allergy medicines, like antihistamines, to reduce the nasal congestion

Selective or non-selective antihistamines can be effective for nasal congestion from allergies. It’s important to consider that some antihistamines can cause drowsiness. There are also nasal steroids available that may help. Talk to your doctor about this.

If none of these tips help to relieve your symptoms, you should talk to your doctor or an ENT to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you suffer from allergies and would like a full face mask or heated tubing?

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Other posts you may find interesting:

Comments

  1. Greg Whitman Reply

    I suffer from severe nasal congestion with my CPAP machine full face model. My nose is so stuffy all day and it feels like my eardrums are trying to blow out of my ears. If anyone has anything to suggest as to how to treat this I would greatly appreciate it.

    • Ruth Reply

      i feel the same way and I don’t like to take medicine to supply the FDA with money so they are living high either.

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  3. James Boone Reply

    These are some useful tips. Dry nose makes difficult to use CPAP. Of course Saline sprays and allergy medicines are effective in relieving nasal congestion. Thanks for sharing these points. Truly appreciated.

  4. M Newman Reply

    My doctor prescribed the nasal spray Astelin. It helps so much. Hope this helps.

  5. Jeanette Minucci Reply

    Hello,
    Once again, I’ve been trying to use my unheated) Cpap machine with pillows. I constantly have a runny nose and am constantly sneezing. Additionally, due to the irritation while using the CPAP machine I am not able to keep it on all night.

    Firstly, for now, how do I get rid of the runny nose and sneezing?

    I would appreciate your reply.

    Thank you.

    Thank you.

    • Michele Reply

      Make sure you are only using distilled water if you have a humidifier. If you don’t have a humidifier you may want to invest in a cpap machine with one. Also ensuring your mask and tubing is cleaned often and replace regularly. I have noticed stuffiness and sneezing more in the winter months which I was chalking up to a cold. However I was recently prescribed an antihistamine at night and a nasal spray which after taking for a few days has relieved the stuffiness in my head. I have had a few ear infections due to the lack of drainage in my sinuses. Hope this helps.

  6. Christie Reply

    Jeanette, I had trouble with runny chapped nose until I got new mask, nasal pillows

  7. Ads Reply

    3 tips
    . Make sure you find the correct humidity and hose temp level. Winter will need more
    . Use distilled water only
    . Clean the basin, hose and tubing with bleach every week

    This cleared all my cpap rhinitis, running nose and congestion issues

    • Papaw Jeff Reply

      Cleaning your CPAP with bleach could be harmful to your health, even if you dilute it with water. The fumes could hang around on your gear and irritate your lungs. Plus, getting any bleach on your skin could burn and corrode your supplies.
      Vinegar is what is recommended by most manufacturers and doctors.

  8. Sinofresh Reply

    Thanks for sharing your post.

  9. climatecool Reply

    Thanks for sharing your post.

  10. Jan Volens Reply

    Antihistamines and Fluticasone MAY affect your eyes . Check both with an eye-specialist if you have Glaucoma or Macular Degeneration or other eye issues.

  11. Deepak Goyal Reply

    My husband used a c Pap machine….has a blocked nose all the time…a deviated septum adds to the problem .. along with post nasal drip…has developed a kind of fungal infection in his sinus… kindly help

  12. Mark Powders Reply

    I use pillows which I like – very comfortable all night. However after I wake I have a runny nose and then a lot of congestion most of the morning. I use a humidifier and distilled water.
    Any ideas???

  13. Judith Ryan Reply

    Make sure to clean everything with Dawn, vinegar and hot, hot water. Soak for at least 15 minutes—everyday and hose once a week, otherwise the bioslime that builds up could probably cause fungus, etc.

    • Susan A Croft Reply

      Judith, you commented to use Dawn dish soap to wash CPAP parts. This is one thing my Cpap provider told me NOT to use on my Cpap mask or hose etc. He said rest of dish soaps would be fine to use, but Dawn is a tad stronger than most and should not be used on these masks. Check with your mask provider.

  14. SeN Smith Reply

    I have very narrow nasal passages and sometimes will wake up unable to breathe through my nose even with my humidification settings zeroed in. I use a nasal cushion style mask. I find it helpful to use Breathe Right nasal strips when I feel a little congested. When I am feeling really congested, I also add 1 spray of Flonase (fluticasone) to each nare before going to bed. Finally, I.change the air filter once a month on the CPAP machine. This method has given me a full year without any daytime nasal congestion. I used to suffer congestion at least once a week prior to starting my CPAP therapy a little over a year ago.

  15. Allison Reply

    What do you all set the pressure at?

  16. Chriseta Gaskin Reply

    Have a stuffy nose and it difficult to use the cpsp machine how can I open my nose and beagle to sleep

  17. High Rated Gabru Reply

    Nice info. Thanks!!!

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  19. shiva Parvati Reply

    Great content thanks for putting this out there.

  20. shakar web Reply

    Thanks for sharing here an informative article

  21. YourConscience Reply

    While there are some great suggestions here, I hope y’all are running them past your doctors. With the way some people phrase their pleas and comments … I have concerns whether many can filter out facts from trolls and misinformation. Specifically, if Fox “News” is what you use — talk to your doctor first. I don’t want y’all to be shooting up with bleach or doing your uncle just because the internet told you to. And no, your doctor isn’t there because a space alien installed him to take your money. Be safe, and God bless y’all!

  22. Gerald Beebe Reply

    I found that if I leave the humidifier empty I do not get a stuffy nose. when I put water into the humidifier I wake in the middle of the night not being able to sleep because I have a stuffy nose.

  23. Jane Reply

    I use cpap with f30 full mask
    My nose is stuffy
    Humidifier on 5 change distilled
    Water Everyday still get stuffy nose
    Just a side effect
    Any tips

  24. fnaf Reply

    The customers really like these, therefore it is unquestionably essential to be familiar with how to carry out the process in an effective and proficient manner.

  25. Alley Reply

    Try heated tubing for added heat, and its work for me, but i need more to know and help about it

  26. Although a well fitted mask is crucial, air leaks will always occur with masks.

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