Decreasing AHI With Fisher Paykel 431

For some reason when I use the Fisher Paykel 431 full face mask, my AHI's are up near 7 to 9 at a pressure of 11cm. When I use a profile lite nasal mask the AHI's drop to about 1.3 to 3.5 at the same pressure. I know others in this fourm have experienced the same results.
The 431 mask is very comfortable but my profile lite nasal mask destroys the bridge of my nose no matter how I try and protect it.
Would increasing the pressure help to lower the AHI in the full face mask?
Anybody have any idea of why this is? Just curious.

Jeff in TN

you have UARS or Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome. Basically, it means your tongue and/or soft palate/Uvula are the cause of your apnea (vs collapse of the airway further down).

When you use a nasal mask, the cpap air pressure flows behind the soft palate/Uvula to push it away, should also reduce snoring. If your blockage is caused by the tongue falling into the back of the throat cpap air coming in from the nasal cavity (vs. mouth) can more easily push the tongue out of the way.

It has more to do with WHERE the airflow is coming from than anything, while you could start mouth breathing and interrupt that flow, use of the FF mask probably doesn't address much of the palatal blockage, in fact it probably seals it off completely (no air flow via nares).

Your OSA is more than likely caused by the factors below:


The medical establishment just likes to give long drawn out names to things that rarely mean what they imply. Why in the hell don't they just say your tongue is falling into the back of the throat

Snoredog wrote:you have UARS or Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome. Basically, it means your tongue and/or soft palate/Uvula are the cause of your apnea (vs collapse of the airway further down).

When you use a nasal mask, the cpap air pressure flows behind the soft palate/Uvula to push it away, should also reduce snoring. If your blockage is caused by the tongue falling into the back of the throat cpap air coming in from the nasal cavity (vs. mouth) can more easily push the tongue out of the way.

It has more to do with WHERE the airflow is coming from than anything, while you could start mouth breathing and interrupt that flow, use of the FF mask probably doesn't address much of the palatal blockage, in fact it probably seals it off completely (no air flow via nares).

That explains a lot. Thanks for the great pictures.
Now just to find a way to keep my nasal mask from permanently placing a hugh red mark and bulge on my nose!!!


Jeff in Tn