Drowning?

Pohtaytoh · Post by **Pohtaytoh** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:28 am

I recently (last week) started using a heated humidifier. I am sleeping great now.

One thing that I thought of though is "Am I drowning myself?"

With my old passover humidifier I only had to fill it once every four or five days. With this heated humidifier, I fill it every night. I didn't check the capacity on both, but it appears to be close to the same amount.

All that water has to be going somewhere, and my calculations say it is most likely going into my lungs. I don't feel any ill side effects, but I have to wonder. The first couple of nights, I used the HH on 4 all night long. Then I got thinking about this and now only use the HH on 4 every third night. The other two nights, I just don't turn the heat on.

Any thoughts?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 11:38 am

I run the heat on my humidifier every night. Of course, I am only in my third week so I'm short on historical data. A heated humidifier will reduce the cotton mouth feeling when you wake up providing moisture in the air your breathing in. I don't think your lungs have anything to worry about from this regulated mist, but if you can live without the heat, no problem. My air flow is high (13cmH2O) which dehydrates the air as it is pumped through the CPAP, the humidifier will replenish the moisture so I don't get dried out. Just to give you something to compare with, my REMstar plus goes through about one cup of water a night.

littlebaddow · Post by **littlebaddow** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:19 pm

Perhaps one of our scientisits can confirm, but I wouldn't think that a heated humidifier is putting any more moisture into your lungs than would happen naturally living in a hot, humid climate?

unclebob · Post by **unclebob** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:05 pm

Hi Pohtaytoh,

Where does the water go? There was a previous discussion on this and, I think it was Mikesus, said that much of it is just exhausted with the air through the vents.

Bob F

gailzee · Post by **gailzee** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:46 pm

I have a htd humidifier and other than sometimes, very seldom, my nose is wet, a tissue will do the trick. My nasal pillow never even has water droplets in it. I am assuming the amt of water you'd probably unknowingly ingest would be negligible and you'd certainly feel excess water in your mouth, nose and throat. Perhaps turn down the # setting on the humidifier? Play around with that?

Pohtaytoh wrote:I recently (last week) started using a heated humidifier. I am sleeping great now.

One thing that I thought of though is "Am I drowning myself?"

With my old passover humidifier I only had to fill it once every four or five days. With this heated humidifier, I fill it every night. I didn't check the capacity on both, but it appears to be close to the same amount.

All that water has to be going somewhere, and my calculations say it is most likely going into my lungs. I don't feel any ill side effects, but I have to wonder. The first couple of nights, I used the HH on 4 all night long. Then I got thinking about this and now only use the HH on 4 every third night. The other two nights, I just don't turn the heat on.

Any thoughts?

Lost Snoozer · Post by **Lost Snoozer** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:43 pm

I would think that as long as the air remains warm the water vapor from the humidifier would remain as part of the air. When air cools down the water vapor condenses because cool air holds less moisture than warm air. Air that has been heated by your humidifier and the warm water and heated by your lungs should have the water vapor exit through the exhaust port as you breath out.

I am glad you have a heated humidifier. My cheap passover humidifier goes through water slowly but leaves me a little dry. But better a little dry than eating cotton, sand, and other dry stuff while I sleep.

I think you only have to worry if you have rainout, which is condensation in your equipment.

Lost Snoozer, not found while not snoring.

Drowning?

Drowning?

Drowning reply

Re: Drowning?

Water Vapor

Machine	Mask