Would a humidifier help?
Question:
"Magesteff (Steffeny Muller)" wrote: > The xPAP removes some > moisture from the air which makes dry air much drier.
Steph….. can you explain how this is possible? Regards, Lee — Lee Babcock Scarborough (Toronto), Ontario, Canada Email —- babco…@idirect.ca
Response:
On Wed, 22 Dec 1999 14:35:53 GMT, in alt.support.sleep-disorder Lee Babcock <babco…@idirect.ca> wrote: >"Magesteff (Steffeny Muller)" wrote: >> The xPAP removes some >> moisture from the air which makes dry air much drier. >Steph….. can you explain how this is possible? >Regards, Lee
If I can step in on Steph’s behalf … It’s simple thermodynamics. A CPAP compresses incoming air using an impeller (fan). The pressure of the air is raised by the fan almost instantly. This is called "adiabatic" compression and results in a rise in temperature. The *absolute* humidity of the air (in milligrams per liter) remains unchanged, otherwise you’d have a CPAP gradually filling with water. But the relative humidity (% of saturation level) drops, because the temperature has risen. This is because warmer air can carry more water. The unchanged *absolute* humidity therefore results in a lowering of the relative humidity (compared to the maximum capacity of the air at that temperature, or "saturation") which is then perceived by your airway as "drier". A humidifier restores the *relative* humidity back to where it was by increasing the *absolute* humidity of the heated air. CPAP does not make the air drier in *absolute* terms, because no water is being lost from the air. However the relative humidity (expressed as a percentage of the maximum, or saturation water content at that temperature) has dropped, so it feels drier. As far as the human body is concerned the air *is* dryer, because the lower %age relative humidity means that it has an increased tendency to dry out the nasal membranes (or a lesser ability to keep them moist). Hope this helps! — Tony Polson, North Yorkshire, UK
Response:
Thanks Tony! You explained it better than I could. As a biologist I’m familiar with the effect with the equipment has on drying the air and what we do to correct the problem (too dry air does bad things to cell cultures) but not the full mechanism of why.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Tony Polson wrote: > If I can step in on Steph’s behalf … It’s simple thermodynamics. > A CPAP compresses incoming air using an impeller (fan). The pressure of > the air is raised by the fan almost instantly. This is called > "adiabatic" compression and results in a rise in temperature. > The *absolute* humidity of the air (in milligrams per liter) remains > unchanged, otherwise you’d have a CPAP gradually filling with water. > But the relative humidity (% of saturation level) drops, because the > temperature has risen. This is because warmer air can carry more water. > The unchanged *absolute* humidity therefore results in a lowering of the > relative humidity (compared to the maximum capacity of the air at that > temperature, or "saturation") which is then perceived by your airway as > "drier". > A humidifier restores the *relative* humidity back to where it was by > increasing the *absolute* humidity of the heated air. > CPAP does not make the air drier in *absolute* terms, because no water > is being lost from the air. However the relative humidity (expressed as > a percentage of the maximum, or saturation water content at that > temperature) has dropped, so it feels drier. As far as the human body > is concerned the air *is* dryer, because the lower %age relative > humidity means that it has an increased tendency to dry out the nasal > membranes (or a lesser ability to keep them moist). > Hope this helps!
Tony….. now it sounds perfectly reasonable. Great explanation! Are you a teacher? Regards, Lee — Lee Babcock Scarborough (Toronto), Ontario, Canada Email —- babco…@idirect.ca
Response:
On Thu, 23 Dec 1999 00:32:10 GMT, in alt.support.sleep-disorder Lee Babcock <babco…@idirect.ca> wrote: >Tony….. now it sounds perfectly reasonable. Great explanation! Are you a >teacher?
No, but I’ve often wanted to be one <g>. I’m a professional engineer. — Tony Polson, North Yorkshire, UK
Response:
Tony Polson wrote: > On Thu, 23 Dec 1999 00:32:10 GMT, in alt.support.sleep-disorder Lee > Babcock <babco…@idirect.ca> wrote: > >Tony….. now it sounds perfectly reasonable. Great explanation! Are you a > >teacher? > No, but I’ve often wanted to be one <g>. > I’m a professional engineer.
Don’t apologize! I teach in the IS department at college, but actually teach in the engineering labs. At times, I feel so sorry for the Eng Tech teachers; Most of the students don’t even know how to turn a screwdriver. Regards, Lee– Lee Babcock Scarborough (Toronto), Ontario, Canada Email —- babco…@idirect.ca
Response:
I don’t use xPAP. It’s my understanding that the device is used to treat apnea conditions, which I do not have. Therefore, a room humidifier would be the only choice. In article <385EEC36.E28C5…@bellsouth.net>, "Magesteff (Steffeny – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Muller)" <mages…@bellsouth.net> wrote: > Why a room humidifier? If the headache goes away after you wake > up, maybe all > you need is a humidifier hooked to the xPAP. I don’t use a > humidifier but I used > to live in Colorado which is much much drier than Florida where I > live now. If I > ever move back there I would want a humidifier accessory for the > xPAP because I > suffered from over dying without the BiPAP in the winter. The xPAP > removes some > moisture from the air which makes dry air much drier. I would > think your > prescription for the xPAP included accessories which would include > a humidifier > (and be covered by insurance which a room humidifier would not be). > shanihn wrote: > > I’ve struggled with insomnia for years, but it seems that I may > have > > beaten it (at least for now). As the weather has gotten colder, > I > > don’t have as much trouble getting to sleep. I live in a very > dry > > climate, and find that when I wake, I have a headache, and my > nose is > > very dry and stuffy. Within about 15 minutes of waking (less if > I > > actually get out of bed) I lose the headache. I’m wondering if > maybe > > the dry air is causing the dryness and stuffiness, and therefore > the > > headache. Room humidifiers are fairly inexpensive, and I’m > wondering > > if using one would help me sleep better. > > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s > Discussion Network * > > The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet > – Free!
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
I’ve struggled with insomnia for years, but it seems that I may have beaten it (at least for now). As the weather has gotten colder, I don’t have as much trouble getting to sleep. I live in a very dry climate, and find that when I wake, I have a headache, and my nose is very dry and stuffy. Within about 15 minutes of waking (less if I actually get out of bed) I lose the headache. I’m wondering if maybe the dry air is causing the dryness and stuffiness, and therefore the headache. Room humidifiers are fairly inexpensive, and I’m wondering if using one would help me sleep better. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
Why a room humidifier? If the headache goes away after you wake up, maybe all you need is a humidifier hooked to the xPAP. I don’t use a humidifier but I used to live in Colorado which is much much drier than Florida where I live now. If I ever move back there I would want a humidifier accessory for the xPAP because I suffered from over dying without the BiPAP in the winter. The xPAP removes some moisture from the air which makes dry air much drier. I would think your prescription for the xPAP included accessories which would include a humidifier (and be covered by insurance which a room humidifier would not be). – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -shanihn wrote: > I’ve struggled with insomnia for years, but it seems that I may have > beaten it (at least for now). As the weather has gotten colder, I > don’t have as much trouble getting to sleep. I live in a very dry > climate, and find that when I wake, I have a headache, and my nose is > very dry and stuffy. Within about 15 minutes of waking (less if I > actually get out of bed) I lose the headache. I’m wondering if maybe > the dry air is causing the dryness and stuffiness, and therefore the > headache. Room humidifiers are fairly inexpensive, and I’m wondering > if using one would help me sleep better. > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * > The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
