CPAP Machines Changing with Advances in Technology

CPAP machines have been a wonderful medical invention for people who suffer from sleep apnea. Advances in design have improved the health and wellbeing of countless patients. However, even the best technology could stand to see some improvements. Sleep apnea patients who travel frequently, especially those who enjoy the outdoors, have a reason to be excited. That’s because new advances in this technology are on the horizon that could improve sleep apnea machines even more, making them conducive to healthy adventure traveling in the near future.

At the current time the majority of sleep apnea machines are designed only for use in the home. They are not constructed to move around from place to place. This makes sense since most of us spend every night in the same bed, which is where we need to use our CPAP equipment. The machinery isn’t so bulky that it’s problematic in the house but it’s generally not an item that travels well.

There are exceptions to this reality. There are CPAP machines that are specifically designed for travel. They are smaller and more lightweight so that sleep apnea sufferers who travel frequently have an option for care on the road. In fact, many advances have already been made in this new equipment. Many travel-sized CPAP machines are durable and efficient enough to actually be used as a daily use machine even though they are much smaller and more lightweight than traditional home-based sleep apnea machinery.

Nevertheless, there remain some hindrances to people who are interested in adventure traveling and sleeping in the outdoors. Even travel-sized machines just aren’t quite cut out for use in remote areas, in tents and on long adventure vacations. Although these machines are considerably smaller and lighter than their home-based counterparts, they are still generally too heavy and bulky to pack in a hiking backpack, for example.

There are two other problems that hinder CPAP equipment from use by adventure travelers. The first is that the majority of these machines require a constant power source to operate properly. Although there are some machines that do run off of long-lasting batteries, many machines still require being plugged into an outlet to work right. This is clearly a problem when you’re in a remote location with unreliable power service. The second problem is that CPAP equipment requires properly distilled water for humidification in order to operate properly. Again, this is not necessarily something that is available to travelers in outdoor and remote areas.

Most people who suffer from sleep apnea have just come to accept that their days of adventure travel must be limited if they want to remain healthy. However, you shouldn’t give up hope yet. Some major advances in technology are currently being made. These advances make it very likely that the limitations of existing equipment will be overcome so that machines can be taken on the road and used safely and comfortably in tents and cabins. They will be energy-efficient machines that rely on built-in battery power to prevent the need to seek out a power source on the road. They will be even more lightweight than small equipment is today. And there will be a workaround to reduce the need to carry distilled water for use in the machinery.

Of course, it will take a little bit of time before the new CPAP machines are put into production, properly tested and deemed safe for use by sleep apnea patients. That testing period is important because it helps guarantee the safety of this new equipment. However, it shouldn’t be long before we start seeing a new generation of CPAP equipment for travelers who want to get a good night’s rest in the great outdoors.