With nearly a decade of writing experience, Meagan Remmes leads the creative vision behind Aeroflow Sleep's blog content. She has worked with a wide range of clients in the past; including Mission Hospital, Ingles Markets, Omni Hotels & Resorts, and Advance Auto Parts. Today, her passion is to educate new and existing sleep apnea patients on the benefits of receiving PAP supplies through insurance. You may also find her hanging out with her dog, hiking with her husband, or reading a good book in blissful solitude.
By now, you’re probably aware that CPAP supplies have an expiration date, so you need to follow a regular replacement schedule. But what happens when you don’t like the updated product you received? Are you actually stuck with that CPAP machine for the next 5 years until your insurance provider will cover a new one? What about ordering CPAP masks and basic accessories—like CPAP filters—outside of the replacement schedule?
All of these questions and more are answered below, as Aeroflow Sleep explains how and when you can swap CPAP equipment in today’s blog.
Ordering a new CPAP machine requires information from both you and your sleep doctor. We’ve already gone over how you can order CPAP supplies online with insurance, but what about the steps your doctor should follow? Your CPAP machine may be one of hundreds they prescribed this month, so even with Aeroflow Sleep contacting the practitioner on your behalf, a specific order might not be top-of-mind without a little pressure from you, the patient. Learn how to be proactive with your first order, by helping doctors quickly submit the right information to Aeroflow Sleep.
February is American Heart Month. But what does your heart have to do with your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA,) not to mention your pee? Well, a new study revealed that people with high uric acid and OSA have a higher risk of death, and the way researchers found out about this was all thanks to cardiovascular disease (aka, heart disease.) Joined by our favorite Medical Advisor, Dr. Carleara Weiss, we’ll do a little digging into some risk factors you may not yet know exist.
Becoming a CPAP user can be scary. Even though you’ve had your sleep study and know Aeroflow Sleep will ship you the right supplies based on your doctor’s diagnosis, there’s the whole process of getting to know your CPAP machine: how to set it up, where the different parts go, and when to perform cleaning and maintenance. Don’t worry; this blog has all of the answers you need for your first machine.
There’s been a lot of buzz lately about CPAP products the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has recalled, and while this isn’t necessarily news to anyone in the sleep apnea industry—let alone our patients, why CPAP masks have joined that list may be a question that remains unanswered. That’s why Aeroflow Sleep, alongside Teresa Power DeNike, is here to clear up any misconceptions about magnetic CPAP masks.
Aeroflow Sleep understands that CPAP supplies can be expensive. Even after your health insurance is applied, there are deductibles and coinsurance to consider. It can be a total headache, which you’re already suffering from thanks to your medical condition: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA.) You don’t need financial stress to fuel that symptom anymore. By understanding what an FSA and HSA is and how either may be used to cover eligible medical expenses, you’ll have a little extra cash in your pocket for the holidays.
Married couples who do not sleep together in the same room are experiencing sleep divorce. For some, it’s an empowering choice, rebelling against modern society and promoting self-care. For others, it really isn’t a choice; it’s a necessity to get any sleep at all. The latter is especially true among couples with partners who have sleep apnea. Fortunately, there are solutions, and we’re here to tell you about them.
“As a combat veteran myself, I understand the sacrifices our nation’s warfighters have made in defense of our nation. We owe it to these brave men and women and their families to uphold the promises our country has made to them when they took their oath to serve. We must ensure that our veterans receive the quality care that they earned and deserve. In addition, we must work to eliminate barriers that impede veterans from accessing their education and employment benefits and promote opportunities for success outside of the military. I am committed to being a fierce advocate for those who have served our country in uniform.” These are the words of Andrew S. Clyde, included within an email sign-off by “Jaz;” an Aeroflow Sleep patient.
Getting used to CPAP can take a little practice. If you are taking your CPAP mask off during the night, then you aren’t receiving proper treatment. This can be detrimental, especially if you are brand new to CPAP, because you have to use your CPAP equipment a minimum amount in order for your insurance to pay for it.
But how do you stop yourself from removing it during your sleep? It’s easy; Kimberly Allen, an Aeroflow Sleep Respiratory Therapist, once recommended 5 simple ways to keep your CPAP mask on all night. Now, please refer to this updated list, as it has been modified to better serve today’s patients.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has three levels of severity: mild, moderate, and severe. Which severity you have is measured by how many times your breathing alters during sleep. If this only happens 5-15 times, you have mild OSA. Is that really enough to subject a patient to a lifetime of PAP therapy?
Dr. Neomi Shah, MD, MPH, MSC, is the System Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs in the Department of Medicine, and Professor (with Tenure) in the Department of Medicine, and Associate Division Chief for Academic Affairs in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine. At the annual American Academy of Sleep Medicine conference, she defended the unpopular opinion that no, treating mild OSA doesn’t mean you have to use a CPAP. Aeroflow Sleep is here to share (and then, argue against) her research.
Aeroflow Sleep reached out, but Dr. Shah did not respond immediately for comment.
