cpap prersures

[ranman18]

If my cpap machine is set at 11 when I am at high altitude, what setting is that equal to at sea level??

[Emilia]

Most modern machines adjust automatically for altitude changes.

[RipVW]

Found this info on another forum:

"I posted a question several months ago about using a CPAP at high altitudes, and I finally have some information to share. A little background: I use a CPAP and live in Denver, CO (the mile high city) and the manual for my CPAP says that on the highest altitude setting the machine is good for 7500 feet. I'm traveling to Peru and Bolivia in April and will be at altitudes ranging from 8500 feet to 13000 feet.

I called the Lung Line at National Jewish Hospital (http://www.nationaljewish.org). National Jewish is the #1 respiratory hospital in the US, and I'm fortunate that it's located here in Denver. Lung Line is at 800-222-LUNG, a free service where registered nurses can answer questions about respiratory issues from 8 am to 4:30 pm Mountain Time (2 hours earlier than Eastern time). I was referred to another number and after a couple of weeks, someone returned my call.

An adjustment in pressure is called for when using a CPAP high altitudes, and I'll be going in to see someone to learn about how to make those adjustments in the near future. Specifically, an increase in pressure is required. The woman I spoke with was able to calculate what my pressure would need to be at three specific altitudes where I'll be spending nights. The adjustments needed aren't huge. My normal pressure is 6 (cm h2o), and the highest the pressure will need to be - for 13,000 feet - is 7.5.

I hope this information is helpful..."

[robysue]

RipVW,

I love the graphic you included: It so reminds of how I felt back when I first had my pressure at 9cm and kept dreaming of being a goose being fattened for foie gras.

[ranman18]

Most modern machines adjust automatically for altitude changes.

If my machine is set at 11 in Denver ,Co (elev 5280 ft) and I go to Orland, Fl (elev 0.0 ft) and the machined is adjusted for the altitude change then what is the pressure setting at sea level. We know it was a 11 at Denver.

[Guest]

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If my machine is set at 11 in Denver ,Co (elev 5280 ft) and I go to Orland, Fl (elev 0.0 ft) and the machine is adjusted for the altitude change then what is the pressure setting at sea level. We know it was a 11 at Denver.

[LSAT]

If you have a machine that automatically adjusts....your pressure will always be at 11 regardless of the altitude.

[avi123]

Here is an old report with a table showing the pressures vs. altitudes (it's also mentioned above):

http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/conte ... l.pdf+html

Another approach if using the same CPAP machine is first to find the atmospheric pressure at both locations:

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/air-a ... d_462.html

And then using this formula to find the new CPAP pressure set-up in cm H20:

new cm H2O = old cm H2O x P1/P2

P1 = atmospheric pressure at the old place
P2 = atmospheric pressure at destination

This would be to achieve the same air flow given the change in air density. It assumes that the ambient temperature of the air in the room is the same in both places.

[Diplomacy]

You can buy a cpap machine at CPAP.com!