In autumn and winter the air outside gets cooler, and in some places it also gets a lot drier. You may begin using central heating to keep your home warm and cozy, which also contributes to drier environments. Continual breathing of dry indoor air can cause itchy skin, sore throat and dry sinuses, and for people with respiratory issues such as sleep apnoea, dry air can exacerbate the problem,(1) resulting in poor sleep.

CPAP humidifiers and sleep apnoea

It’s not just dry air that can affect your breathing at night. If you use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to combat sleep apnoea you may experience dry mouth or throat. This occurs because your body may not be able to provide sufficient moisture to humidify the airflow created by the CPAP device.

When you breathe without CPAP, your nose will act as a natural humidifier; it warms up the air you inhale so that it’s more comfortable for you to breathe. However, when you inhale air coming through a CPAP machine, it may need its own humidification because it’s entering your upper airway faster than your nose can warm it. This is especially true if you live in colder or drier climates and/or require high CPAP pressures.

The good news is that using humidification along with therapy can reduce dryness and nasal congestion and make you more comfortable while you sleep. Resmed’s heated humidifiers add moisture and warmth to the air delivered by our devices, reducing the symptoms of dryness and congestion and helping you enjoy better quality sleep.

There are a few types of Resmed humidifiers you can introduce into your CPAP treatment depending on the device you have.

Humidification for the Resmed AirSense^TM 10 AutoSet^TM

The Resmed AirSense 10 AutoSet (Complete Device Kit) is a premium APAP device that comes equipped with an integrated, easy-to-use HumidAir™ humidifier and ClimateLineAir™ heated tube. These work together to maintain the temperature of the humidified air as it passes through the tube and reduce CPAP humidification rainout.

If you already have an AirSense 10 without humidification, you can purchase the HumidAir humidifier and ClimateLineAir heated tube,

Humidification for the Resmed S9 AutoSet^TM

You can also add a humidifier if you have an older S9 AutoSet device. The H5i™ including climate control for the S9 AutoSet is designed to easily integrate with your device to provide you with comfortable, constant temperature and humidity levels while you sleep.

Humidification for the Resmed AirMini^TM 

The Resmed AirMini travel device, when used with an AirFit™ N20 nasal mask or AirFit P10 pillows mask, includes HumidX™ our waterless humidification system. HumidX delivers all the benefits of humidification without the hassle of changing water every day.

For dry and high altitude environments where humidity levels are low, such as within aircraft cabins, we also have HumidX Plus.

If you are already using an AirMini with HumidX, you can purchase replacement HumidX and HumidX Plus from the Resmed Official Online Shop.

So as the seasons change and the temperature and humidity drop, don’t let the increased dryness impact your shut-eye. With a humidifier integrated into your PAP therapy, you can breathe easy and rest well.