If you use CPAP/BiPAP, and wondered how you tell when new mask, headgear, tubing etc is needed....well here are some helpful pointers.....

All of the kinks got ironed out. Finally you have been enjoying uninterrupted sleep. You have begun to feel rested...can make it through the day without feeling exhausted. Good for you!
But now sometime later you begin to be awakened one or more times during the night. A leak occurs that wakens you.
Here are some possibilities related to soft goods (mask, headgear, tubing) that could be occurring.

• Most commonly, the seal of your mask begins to loose it's softness....it begins to look crushed, flattened....Almost all masks today, whether it be a nasal mask or full face mask, have what is called a double flange. In other words, you will find two layers of silicone in the seal. The purpose of the double seal is to support the application of sealing from the inside.                  When you put the mask on .....snug up the straps (uniformly, so all are pulled to the same length) then with the cpap machine running pull the mask whether it be nasal or full face away from your face just a tiny bit. This allows the flow of air to fill the cushion a bit and helps the mask seal properly. It is a good idea, if waked during the night with a leak to first simply pull the mask away from your face and let it reseat.

• It was mentioned that the straps to the mask need to be uniformly pulled to the same length. If this is not done, movement (rolling from on position to another) could break the seal and waken you. When the straps (headgear) begin to be stretched a bit and not have the ability to be snugged up, this will also make it more difficult to keep the mask sealed.

• The tubing running from the machine to your mask should be checked for leaks. Little holes can easily become larger ones. You may have noticed that any leak causes the machine to run faster. This is because most machines are leak compensated, meaning that any leak detected causes the machine to run faster so that the preset pressure is attained regardless of leak. If the thin coating of your tube begins to look thin even though no hole, you should get a new one.

Trust you find this information helpful
To your success,
Chet