Why You Should Use a Heated Hose

Many CPAP users, especially in the beginning of their therapy, simply stick to the absolute basics: a CPAP or APAP device, a mask and of course the hose. For a significant number of users, this basic also works fine. However, trying out various additional accessories can significantly improve the overall sleep therapy and make it more pleasant. Heated CPAP hoses are a frequently used accessory that you may want to know more about, especially towards the colder months of the year.

Heated tubing does exactly what the name suggests; the tubing that connects the device to the mask is heated internally. Many patients use heated tubing because the air coming through the CPAP mask feels cold and uncomfortable. The cold temperature can also have other undesirable effects because the cold air causes blood vessels to dilate. As a result, users may experience increased mucus production, causing them to wake up with sinus congestion and/or a runny nose.

Therefore, it may be worthwhile to opt for a heated CPAP hose to alleviate or often even completely eliminate these unpleasant side effects.

Sleep therapy without a heated hose

As mentioned earlier, the air coming out of a CPAP mask without the use of a heated hose can feel very cold. However, in the long run, this often has more disadvantages than just a cold and uncomfortable feeling. Users will regularly experience one or more of the following side effects:

• Condensation (rainout)
• Dry mouth and/or nose
• Increased mucus production
• Pain in the throat and/or sinuses
• Nosebleeds

What exactly do we mean by condensation or also called rainout? Condensation occurs when the air in the hose cools down, for example due to colder ambient air in the bedroom. Eventually this water comes out at the end of the hose and therefore the mask and ends up on the face throughout the night.

In addition, the colder air can irritate the sinuses, causing the body to naturally produce more mucus. This often results in a stuffy nose and/or a runny nose. In addition, it can cause a dry nose and/or mouth in the morning, which in turn leads to a sore throat and/or nosebleeds due to a dried out nasal cavity.

In summary, different users experience various uncomfortable or even painful symptoms due to this cold airflow. No one likes an unpleasant start to the day and to prevent this, many CPAP users add a heated hose to their sleep therapy.

Benefits of a heated hose

Adding a heated CPAP hose may therefore clearly be worth considering if you are experiencing such unwanted side effects and symptoms. Warmer air during CPAP therapy can significantly increase comfort and thus help you adhere to your prescribed therapy and thus get a healthier and better night’s sleep.

What we hear most from patients who have added a heated tube to their therapy is how much more comfortable it has become. The warm airflow reduces irritation in the nose and sinuses, preventing excessive mucus production, a dry feeling in the nose and/or mouth upon waking, and even possible sore throats. It also helps prevent condensation if humidification has been added to the therapy before. Even when a warm airflow is chosen in an otherwise cold bedroom during the colder seasons.

In short, nobody wants to get up with a dry nose and/or mouth, sore throat or regular nosebleeds. And to prevent this in sleep apnea patients who use a CPAP, a heated hose is a good solution. At VivAir we are happy to help you with this and we offer a wide range of heated hoses. Both integral ones such as for the ResMed AirSense 10 and 11 devices, as well as universal solutions for devices that do not include such a connection.