Is CPAP Applicable in Hydrogen Water?
CPAP is a continual positive airway pressure therapy and is the most effective non-invasive treatment for a condition called OSA or obstructive sleep apnea. It is a common sleep disorder wherein a person stops breathing for brief moments or periods during sleep. CPAP therapy opens up one's airways with constant air pressure. Hydrogen water, on the other hand, has gained popularity over the past years as a wellbeing fad because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. The interest in alternative therapies is rising, with many queries on the possibility of CPAP being applied in hydrogen water to further health benefits or therapeutic effects.
In this article, we shall explore the concept of hydrogen water, the mechanism of action underlying CPAP, and whether these two are safely or beneficially combined.
What is Hydrogen Water?
Hydrogen water is just ordinary water infused with hydrogen gas. Hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms (H2). For such a plain compound, hydrogen has been well-researched for its possible health-related benefits when dissolved into water. The proponents of hydrogen water say that it is a powerful antioxidant which can reduce inflammation and give more energy, and even delay the process of aging.
Some suggest that hydrogen water helps reduce oxidative stress in the body. Oxidative stress refers to a process where these free radicals are greater in number than the antioxidants in the body, causing cell and tissue damage. Over time, this can lead to various health problems, such as heart disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. Hydrogen water, rich in molecular hydrogen, is thus believed to neutralize free radicals and protect the body from oxidative damage.
Although clinical trials may be more in number to establish the full benefits, initial studies are promising for metabolic syndrome, exercise recovery, and certain neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease.
What is CPAP Therapy?
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP, therapy generally refers to the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. In OSA, there is excessive relaxation of the throat muscles during sleep that results in the partial obstruction of the airway. This leads to the patient's experiencing pauses and restarts of breathing multiple times during sleep, thereby leading to disturbed rest and reduced levels of oxygen supply in the blood. If left unchecked, sleep apnea threatens to let loose a host of ills upon the sufferer, including-but not limited to-fatigue, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease, all the way to increased susceptibility to accidents due to somnolence.
The CPAP machine avoids such obstruction to the airways by blowing continuous streams of air through a mask worn over the nose, sometimes both nose and mouth. The air pressure holds back collapse of the throat muscles and allows users to have easier and more uniform breathing during the night.
Regular CPAP therapy has shown to markedly improve quality sleep, daytime somnolence, and reduce risk associated with untreated OSA. However, the use of a CPAP machine itself is fraught with difficulties. Some patients are uncomfortable with the mask on, while others may have to endure dryness of airways, nasal congestion, or skin irritation.
The Idea of Combining CPAP with Hydrogen Water
With the ever-increasing interest in hydrogen water for its probable health-related benefits, it would be understandable that some patients might be curious whether administering hydrogen water in a CPAP can extend its therapeutic reach. Perhaps, they reason, inhaling hydrogen-infused air during sleep could be more effective in reducing oxidative stress and improving general health outcomes. While the notion may sound appealing, there are various issues to consider before attempting a combination of CPAP treatment and hydrogen water.
How CPAP Machines Handle Humidification
Most CPAP machines have a humidifier that may add moisture to the air being delivered to the airways. This is particularly helpful for those who have the dryness or discomfort in the nasal passages due to the airflow being continually channeled inside the nose. This humidified air will help prevent drying along the throat and nose, allowing comfort with the CPAP therapy over longer use.
In general, the humidifier of a CPAP machine will use distilled water in order to prevent mineral buildup from occurring and to ensure proper function of the machine. Distilled water is recommended because it is completely free of impurities and chemicals that could damage the machine or irritate the airways.
Hydrogen Water's Role in CPAP
Hydrogen water has been touted, even pushed, for various health benefits as a hydrogen-rich water beverage, but its application in the CPAP machines has not been clinically studied or tested. There are a number of issues that may become real, regarding the potential to use hydrogen water in a CPAP humidifier.
1. Hydrogen Gas Stability: Hydrogen gas is very light and is allowed to diffuse rapidly. Even in hydrogen water, the gas itself does not remain stable for a long period of time, especially when exposed to air. The question then might arise as to whether any meaningful amount of hydrogen would remain in the water at the time it is vaporized and delivered through the CPAP machine. It is not yet known whether the hydrogen concentration is considerable enough to exert any kind of therapeutic benefit when it is used in this manner.
2. Hydrogen Inhalation Safety: Although hydrogen water is safe for ingestion, the same may not be said about hydrogen gas inhalation. Hydrogen is flammable at certain concentrations, and its safety for inhalation over an extended period, as would be done using CPAP during an entire night, has not been well researched. CPAP machines are designed to safely deliver regular air or, at times, air with added oxygen. Introducing an unstable gas might be dangerous.
3. Implications for CPAP Equipment: These are medically calibrated, very sensitive CPAP machines, and the introduction of anything other than distilled water in the humidifier will alter their performance. Hydrogen water is simply water that has dissolved gas, and there is no telling what it could do to the functioning of the humidifier, the internal components of the machine, and even the mask. It could be potentially malfunctioning or long-term damage.
4. Unknown Health Benefits: Even if there were a safe way to inhale hydrogen gas while receiving CPAP therapy, there is no evidence that this would confer any health benefits. The current studies on hydrogen therapy are based on oral consumption or specific systems that involve hydrogen gas inhalation designed for short-term use under medical supervision. There are absolutely no studies that examine what might be happening by mixing hydrogen water with CPAP therapy for extended use during sleep.
Conclusion: The Use of CPAP with Hydrogen Water is Indicated
At this time, there is no scientific evidence to support using hydrogen water in a CPAP machine, nor is it clinically supported. While hydrogen water might be healthy to drink, inhaling it with the assistance of a CPAP device has yet to demonstrate safety and efficacy. Finally, using anything other than distilled water in a CPAP humidifier can result in damage to the equipment or possible unexpected side effects.
For anyone desiring to improve general health while on CPAP treatment, it is generally best to rely on proven methods. This includes maintaining a healthy lifestyle, adhering to your doctor's recommendations regarding sleep apnea treatment, and using your prescribed CPAP machine. If you are interested in the possible benefits of hydrogen water, it is safest as a consumable drink, not in trying to modify your CPAP device.
Changing any treatment of sleep apnea, including adding new treatments that involve medical equipment, should always be consulted and approved by a doctor, such as the CPAP machine.
