I have been on CPAP therapy for a month now and I feel like discontinuing the CPAP because it is causing me more trouble than when I wasn’t on therapy. I have had runny nose and nose dryness since I have been on the CPAP and once I even noticed tiny cracks around my nose. Honestly, I am reluctant to discontinue therapy because that would mean going back to sleepless nights and drowsiness. I was told a CPAP humidifier is just what I need but I need some additional information on this first.


It is undeniable that CPAP therapy is the easiest, most effective way of treating sleep apnea and breathing problems associated with respiratory failure. However, it is also not beyond every CPAP user’s knowledge that CPAP therapy has its side effects that are potentially dangerous.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy involves the administration of rapidly moving air into the lungs through the nose to keep the airway open and increase oxygenation. The pressurized air causes the mucous membranes in the nose, throat, and mouth to dry out making it prone to irritation and infection. Most common complaint of CPAP users are nasal stuffiness, dry and itchy nose, and even nosebleeds, which can be quite uncomfortable for the patient.

To manage this side effect, a saline nasal spray may be effective, as well as a nasal decongestant. You can ask your doctor for a prescription or you can get them over-the-counter. But the simplest and probably the most effective way in preventing nasal stuffiness and dryness is the use of a CPAP humidifier while on CPAP therapy for increased air humidification or moisture.

A CPAP humidifier can single-handedly address the problem of dryness and irritation because of the additional moisture it provides to the rapidly moving air, keeping the tissues where the pressurized air passes moist and preventing further tissue breakdown.

There are two types of CPAP humidifiers available in the market today: heated CPAP humidifier and passover CPAP humidifier. Both types are effective in preventing dryness and stuffiness. But the most recommended type, both by experts and users alike, is the heated CPAP humidifier.

The passover humidifier simply involves the use of a chamber of water attached to the CPAP. The air coming from the machine passes through the water chamber adding moisture to it before it goes to the mask and into the nasal cavity. However, this is not as useful during cold weather because the temperature of the water in the chamber also drops as the weather gets colder. This is also not advisable for CPAP requiring high pressure delivery because the air passing through the water chamber will be unable to gather enough moisture from the water.

Heated CPAP humidifier, on the other hand, uses heat to add moisture to the rapidly moving air. The amount of heat can be adjusted according to the amount of pressure the patient will be needing. It has also been noticed that patients who use the heated CPAP humidifier has a higher compliance rate than those who uses the nonheated CPAP humidifier.

CPAP humidifiers are add-on options to make CPAP therapy a better experience for patients who are experiencing breathing and sleeping problems like sleep apnea. This helps them stick to the therapy more comfortably. Ask your doctor about it if you feel you are not comfortable with the CPAP therapy anymore.