CPAP therapy prevents snoring by supplying a continuous flow of pressurized air that keeps tissues in the upper airways from collapsing while you sleep. Effective CPAP therapy eliminates snoring, so if you’re still snoring while using a CPAP machine, you’ve got a problem.
In this article, we’ll explain what snoring is, explore why you still snore while using CPAP and give you advice on what to do about it.
What is snoring?
When air moves through the airway, it causes loose tissues to vibrate and rub against each other. These movements create sounds that we identify as snoring.
How does CPAP stop snoring?
At the beginning of this article, we mentioned that CPAP therapy is pressurized air that splints the upper airway open. Now that we’ve defined snoring, we can see how CPAP prevents it. The pressurized air from your CPAP machine stops loose tissues from vibrating or rubbing against each other, preventing snoring.
Why do I still snore with CPAP?
If you are on CPAP therapy but find that you’re still snoring during night, it’s likely due to one of the following reasons.
1. Your CPAP pressure is too low
Your CPAP pressure needs will change as the factors that affect the severity of your sleep apnea changes. These can be your weight, level of stress, amount of alcohol you consume, use of opioid painkillers etc.
Many CPAP users start snoring again after some weight gain. This is because their current CPAP pressure is too low to keep their airway tissues apart from each other after gaining weight.
If you feel your CPAP pressure needs to be increased, please consult your sleep specialist for a CPAP reevaluation.
2. You have a mask leak
This reason ties in with the first one. If you have a significant enough mask leak, it lowers the pressure that you receive from your CPAP.
Some level of mask leak is normal, and it is very helpful to know if you actually have an excessive level of mask leak. Please refer to this handy guide for more information on evaluating and fixing your mask leak.
3. You’re using the wrong type of CPAP mask
Choosing the right type of CPAP mask for your sleeping style is crucial for CPAP therapy success. Yet, it can be tricky.
Your sleeping style includes many factors such as whether you are a mouth breather, a stomach sleeper, an active sleeper and so on.
Please refer to this guide to see if you are using the best type of mask for your sleeping style.
How to Stop Snoring with CPAP
Here are three things you can do to stop snoring while on CPAP therapy.
1. Get your CPAP pressure adjusted
If you feel that your CPAP air pressure is too low, get in touch with your sleep professional. You may need to do another sleep study.
Don’t fret if you need either a sleep study or a good specialist, especially if you haven’t spoken to one in a while. You can easily get an appointment with a sleep specialist online and do a home sleep study – affordably. For more information on booking an online appointment with a sleep specialist and doing a sleep study at home, click here.
2. Try to avoid sleeping on your back
Sleeping on your back increases the likelihood of snoring. When you sleep on your back, gravity tends to pull the tongue and soft tissues at the back of your throat downwards. For some people, this can cause their airways to become partially or completely obstructed. As you breathe, the walls of the throat start to vibrate – these vibrations lead to the characteristic sounds of snoring. If you tend to snore when sleeping on your back, try sleeping on your sides instead. Sleeping on your side allows for better alignment and openness of the throat and airway, reducing the chance of these tissues obstructing the airway and causing snoring.
If you struggle with staying on your side, try placing a large, heavy pillow on each side to prevent you from rolling onto your back. You can also sew a tennis ball to the back of a T-shirt and wear that to bed. The tennis ball makes sleeping on your back uncomfortable so you can train yourself to stop sleeping on your back.
3. Reevaluate your mask
Sometimes it’s not the pressure that’s the problem, but the mask. If your mask is a poor fit for your sleeping style or just a poor fit in terms of size, you can be on the “right” CPAP pressure and still snore.
If you think your mask is the problem, we have a guide that will help you find the right type of CPAP mask. You can also browse our complete selection of CPAP masks.
Snoring with CPAP FAQ
Q: Will CPAP stop my snoring?
A: It should. If it does not and your mask fits well, you should speak with your sleep specialist about the snoring so they have reevaluate your therapy pressure.
Q: Which CPAP mask is best for snoring?
A: The best CPAP mask to stop snoring is the one that is an ideal fit for your head size, facial features, and sleeping style. The mask that fits the best and stays on during the night is the one that is the most likely to help you stop snoring. Please refer to this guide on finding the right CPAP mask for help with finding your ideal mask.
If you have any other questions, please call us at 1-866-936-3754 or email us at sales@respshop.com. We are here to help you sleep better!