CPAP airflow on planes

[z754103]

I noticed that the airflow/pressure from my CPAP seems much weaker when I"m using it on a plane, and I find it hard to breathe, as if I'm not getting enough air, when I have the mask on.

Should I be adjusting for altitude? Something else? Anyone else with a similar problem and suggestions on how to fix?

Thanks!

[Goofproof]

You needed to buy a machine with auto alt adjust, yours doesn't have it. Jim

[birdshell]

I've never flown with a CPAP, but:

Even my very, very basic CPAP has a manual altitude adjustment. If asking the flight attendant for the altitude doesn't work, that could be a problem. Often, the pilot will announce the altitude over the public address system.

[GoofyUT]

It ain't the plane's altitude that matters. its the altitude that the cabin is pressurized to that matters, generally somewhere in the vicinity of 10,000 feet, I think.

Most manually set altitiude adjustments in CPAPS have settings that permit setting to "5000 ft and above" or something like that. Whatever your maximum is, I'd set it for that, and see what happens.

Cheers!

[birdshell]

Chuck, once again you have the answer. How do you always know these things? (That is really a rhetorical question.)

Thanks for the info. I have to file it away for my October flight, just in case I want to sleep on it. Previously, I'd fight to stay awake for fear of snoring.

[billbolton]

generally somewhere in the vicinity of 10,000 feet, I think.

Commercial aircraft cabin pressure is normally set to no less than "the equivalent of outside air pressure " at an elevation of ~2400 metres (~8000 feet) above sea level.

Typically it is set in the range of 1500–2400 metres above sea level, depending on the aircraft and airline involved. At this pressure, oxygen saturation of the blood in healthy individuals of any age is slightly reduced, from 98% percent to between 92-94%.

Cheers,

Bill

[z754103]

Thanks, very helpful. I felt like I was suffocating on these flights!