You don't even have to know what sleep apnea means in order to understand that it sounds rather unpleasant. No sleep disorder is fun. Actually, no disorder is fun when you think about it, but we digress. Sleep apnea is a condition in which individuals can have pauses or breaks in their breathing pattern when they sleep. Other than being a total pain in a patient's backside, it also means that those who have it suffer from poor sleep quality, which can domino into other health issues.
Luckily, there is something you can do about it. It's called a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) mask, and it can help many patients. Considering many women are dealing with sleep apnea, here are seven models of sleep apnea masks that were designed especially for women. If you are a woman with sleep apnea or know such a woman, keep reading.
Common or older sleep apnea masks are notoriously loud, which kind of defeats the purpose of having a good night's sleep. Not this one. The airtouch F20 was engineered to keep quiet, be gentle, and fit itself to a woman's face with a special memory foam cushion.
CPAP masks as we used to know them had a way of adhering to one's face in a way that may have helped them breathe but was incredibly uncomfortable in any other respect. Again, not ideal for a good night's sleep. Well, not anymore. This mask prides itself on the minimal face contact it offers. It can also come in either silicone or fabric frames, so you can use the material that feels best on your face.
It's mind-boggling that most medical equipment was designed and molded with men in mind (well, we assume gynecology equipment is a different story, but still). Not this one. The AirFit P10 was designed to be light and compact so it best fits a woman's face. It's also low on noise, which is always a bonus.
Women who enjoy a little more coverage in their CPAP masks would love the Simplus. It was created with a RollFit seal technology that helps it adjust to a woman's facial features in a way that minimizes pressure and maximizes comfort. It's easy to clean too, which is a definite plus.
This one is as comfortable as it is elegant. It has features like plush headgear and magnetic clips that help it adjust to various shapes and sizes of faces, particularly women's faces that are usually smaller in proportion.
As people who have tried sleep apnea masks will tell you, spending a few hours with that thing on your face always results in waking up with the mask marks on your skin. No fun. Especially if your morning is limited in time and you need to do your makeup before you go to work. The DreamWear aims to minimize that with cushioning, including a little cushion under the nose that’s meant to prevent the markings and increase comfort.
This CPAP mask is minimalistic and light. It has gentle sealing technology that goes around a patient's nose and the adjustable headgear that make it light and comfortable, and a diffuser that can be easily washed so it reduces noise.
Things to think about when choosing a mask
If you or a woman you know is in need of such a device, it's important to think of a few things before actually getting it. Consider comfort and adjustability, as the person is meant to be spending several hours in it every day. Think of the patient's preferred sleeping position, skin sensitivity, and sound sensitivity. Factor all of these into your research and you will make the right choice.
