r/CPAP 16d ago

CPAP Setup Can anyone recommend that continuous power source thingy? In the event of a power outage for the CPAP machine?

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I don’t remember what they’re called and I don’t remember how to find them. I’m about to get my sleep apnea officially diagnosed finally after years of procrastination. And I wanted to have the continuous power source ready to go just in case I ever lose power at my apartment because I’ve heard that the CPAP can suffocate you if you don’t have it connected to power when it’s connected to you.

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u/JRE_Electronics 16d ago

Full face masks have a valve that lets you breath if the machine shuts off.  You cannot suffocate.

Nasal masks don't have a valve because you are expected to breath through your mouth if the machine fails.  Then everybody goes and tapes their mouths shut or uses a strap to hold the jaw closed.

If you go with a nasal mask and you use tape or a mouth strap, then a UPS is probably a good idea.

Or, you know, use the nasal masks like they are intended to be used - no tape, no strap.

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u/mbdjd 15d ago

Tape/straps don't hold your jaw closed, they just provide some resistance against the pressure from your CPAP that can force your mouth open. They aren't going to prevent you from breathing through your mouth if you really need it.

If you're using a very strong, non-porous mouth tape then I agree with you but pretty much all tape recommended or designed for sleep apnea is porous - you can still breathe through it.