Bloating From CPAP?
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Time to read 2 min
Ever wake up feeling like there’s a hurricane in your stomach? Or when you use your CPAP, do you notice…
- Stomachache or bloating
- Burping or flatulence
- Heartburn or acid reflux
These are all symptoms of aerophagia, or air eating, which is a common CPAP side effect. Aerophagia happens when air goes into your stomach instead of your airways during the night.
What causes these uncomfortable symptoms?
The most common culprit is your exhaled air not escaping the CPAP system when you breathe out. Pressure problems (both too high and too low), sinus blockage, and mask issues can all lead to aerophagia.
How to fix your aerophagia:
1. Use a CPAP that adjusts your pressure throughout the night.
If the pressure levels aren’t tailored to your needs, then your chance of swallowing air accidentally in the night increases. The best solution is upgrading to an auto CPAP. An auto CPAP will automatically titrate, or adjust, the pressure, so you always get the correct pressure night after night. It can even adjust for your sleeping position or how tired you are that evening.
These machines are programmed with a sophisticated algorithm that monitors your breathing in order to determine the most comfortable and effective settings for you at any given moment. The constant adjustments of the auto CPAP are essential to ensure that you continue to get the most out of your CPAP therapy.
Your new CPAP could be yours for $0! Allow us to check with your insurance provider for you to find out what is covered for free.
2. Make sure you are using the right mask.
If you have a nasal cushion mask but your mouth opens during the night, then you can end up gulping air as the therapy escapes out your mouth. Similarly, nasal pillow masks can have the same problem. A full face mask, such as ResMed’s AirFit F30, will let you breathe out through your mouth instead of swallowing the air.
3. Upgrade to a CPAP with advanced comfort settings.
If you’re having trouble exhaling but your pressure level is already matching your needs, then you’ll want to use EPR, which stands for Expiratory Pressure Relief. EPR is a standard feature on ResMed’s AirSense 11 AutoSet that reduces the pressure of your therapy only when you exhale.
4. Clean your CPAP supplies effectively to avoid sinus congestion.
If your CPAP supplies aren’t clean or harboring germs, then you can end up with plugged sinuses and a belly full of air. Keeping your equipment clean will keep you healthier, and open sinuses means easier breathing. Sanitize your CPAP properly with the Lumin CPAP Cleaner so you don’t get any sinus irritation from germs.
