Altitude and CPAP

fustbariclation · Post by **fustbariclation** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:57 pm

I've got a CPAP machine that automatically adjusts itself for altitude (a Fisher & Pykel machine). So that Isn't my question.

I fly from sea level to 1,800 M (6,000 FT) where I stay for five days. I find that I'm tired through most of my trip. Sites that cover altitude adjustment say that it takes about two days to get used to this sort of altitude.

I was wondering if, perhaps, my CPAP machine was preventing me from adjusting quickly. Any suggestions?

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:24 am

At sea level in a generally healthy individual the partial pressure
of oxygen in his arteries is about 100 mmHg

At 1800 meters altitude the partial pressure of O2 in the arteries
is about 70 mmHG

A drop of almost a third of O2 pp

A heathy individual may experience nothing or a bit of tiredness
on exercision
A not so heathy individiual with anemia, lung disease, atherosclerotic heart disease etc. may feel bad with mild or no exercision at all

The cpap will push enough air compensating for the lower barometric
pressure at that altitude but the air is rarefied (lower oxg content)
Your airway will probably stay open with the cpap but you are breathing less oygen than at sea level

From the elevation (1 mile -+) it sounds like Denver
read this:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 639AAy87P7

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, Altitude

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, Altitude

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, Altitude

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:31 am

My CPAP machine (the Resmed Lightweight S7: non-data capable, straight CPAP, no C-FLEX or leak detection or any other bells or whistles, and I got it at a bargain since it's no longer a current model) has a user-accessible setting for altitude adjustment. I can set it at the approximate altitude I'm at, and it will adjust the pressure accordingly. Check your manual (or the manufacturer) to see if you have something similar available on your machine.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:12 am

Yikes....missed the part where you wrote that your machine is adjusting to altitude automatically!