People with sleep apnea continuously cease breathing while asleep, resulting in many nighttime awakenings and many other signs of poor sleep.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is an effective treatment for many with sleep apnea. It makes use of CPAP masks to assist patients in sleeping through the night and can even lessen or completely reverse the symptoms and detrimental effects sleep apnea can have on one’s health.
So, if you believe you have sleep apnea, you may be asking how to obtain a CPAP machine to improve your sleep quality.
A sleep physician must diagnose you with sleep apnea before recommending a CPAP device. The physician will also determine whether CPAP therapy is appropriate for you and your treatment strategy. That implies that your sleep physician will have to write you a prescription for CPAP.
What is a CPAP Prescription?
CPAP prescription is a test that includes pressure settings as per your apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) and lowest oxygen saturation (Sao2). The main condition needed to enjoy the health advantages of treating obstructive sleep apnea is compliance with CPAP therapy.
In terms of survival, cardiovascular events, blood pressure, excessive daytime drowsiness, cognitive performance, and quality of life, longer CPAP use has been beneficial.
Do I Need a Prescription to Use a CPAP Machine?
A written prescription from your doctor is required before you can purchase a CPAP machine. You must first see the doctor’s office, even though CPAP therapy is one of the most efficient and generally safe ways to treat the signs of sleep apnea.
Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your symptoms if you’re exhibiting any sleep apnea symptoms. Your medical professional can diagnose you and issue a prescription for CPAP therapy. When you get a prescription for CPAP, you can start looking for the best CPAP device.
How to Get a CPAP Prescription
Recognizing the signs of sleep apnea and scheduling an appointment with your doctor are the first steps in obtaining a CPAP prescription. The type of sleep apnea that occurs most frequently is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
In addition to frequent and loud snoring, other signs include breathing problems, gasping or choking when you wake up, frequent awakenings, nighttime restlessness, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, and mood swings.
The disorder also comes in a less common form called central sleep apnea (CSA). Due to the fact that the airway isn’t physically constricted as it is with OSA, it may be difficult to recognize the symptoms of CSA.
Make an appointment with your doctor if any of the sleep apnea symptoms are present in you. Your primary care physician is the best place to start. If necessary, they can assess your symptoms and provide a referral to a sleep doctor.
You are able to get a prescription for CPAP therapy from any medical professional, including your primary care physician. A sleep expert can only perform a thorough sleep study. Self-reported symptoms are a good start, but a sleep study’s findings provide a more thorough picture of your issues.
A sleep study, sometimes referred to as polysomnography, is a 24-hour clinical examination. Sleep specialists in a sleep clinic frequently perform polysomnography, but some medical professionals offer a streamlined version that may be completed at home.
Multiple physical markers, including heart rate, respiration, oxygen levels, respiratory effort, eye movement activity, muscle activity, and electrical activity of the heart and brain as you sleep, are often measured by polysomnography.
Your sleep specialist will evaluate the results of your sleep study, make a diagnosis, and choose the most appropriate course of treatment after it is complete. You can be prescribed CPAP if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.
What Needs to be Stated on a CPAP Prescription?
A lot of things need to be on your CPAP prescription, and if the wrong words are used in the wrong locations, it may be difficult to obtain the appropriate equipment. We’ve compiled a list of everything your prescription must contain to help make this process simpler.
Here are some fundamental conditions for every prescription for CPAP equipment:
- Your doctor’s name
- Your doctor’s signature
- The patient’s full name
- The date of the order
- The length of need
- The diagnosis
Can You Get a CPAP Prescription Without a Sleep Study?
A sleep study is not necessary in order to buy a CPAP machine. However, we advise getting one because a sleep study would provide a thorough picture of your sleep habits and issues.
Why do You Need a Prescription For CPAP?
Although it may seem inconvenient, needing a prescription helps to safeguard your health. It can be risky to use a CPAP on the incorrect pressure setting, or even worse, to use one even if you don’t have sleep apnea.
It is more likely that your pressure settings will be personalized for you and that your sleep therapy will be successful if you go through a doctor or other healthcare provider.
And over time, it has become simpler. The FDA downgraded PAP machines in 2018 from Class III medical equipment to Class II medical devices.
I Have a Prescription: Where Can I Buy my CPAP Machine?
Most individuals new to treating Sleep Apnea might not be aware of their alternatives when it comes to beginning CPAP therapy. The only way to purchase a CPAP machine might be through your insurance provider. However, there are still alternatives!
You could go to a nearby CPAP store, but you might not be satisfied with the options. Online ordering is actually one of the greatest ways to obtain a CPAP machine once you have your prescription.
You’ll have the chance to avoid insurance red tape and regulations and receive the precise quality and type of machine you require for your therapy there. You can purchase a travel CPAP machine if you desire one. You can purchase a top-of-the-line machine if you desire one. You can also obtain built-in humidification if you want it. You can order it as long as your prescription specifies it.
When you use insurance, they provide you with the machine and mask they believe will work the best. You don’t have much control on the kind of machine you acquire. The insurance company has little motivation to provide you with the best machine because they get reimbursed the same whether you have a fantastic or ordinary machine.
They provide you with a tool that serves your needs. Getting a machine that works for you is the best course of action. This is why the cash market for CPAP devices has expanded quickly over the past ten years. Customers discover they don’t need to make concessions.
Bottom Line
No matter what kind of sleep apnea you may have or how severe your condition may be, the only way to obtain a prescription for CPAP is to see a sleep physician, complete a sleep study, and adhere to your physician’s recommended course of treatment.
