A Guide to Traveling With a CPAP Machine

For many, the summer means high temperatures, vacations that are frequently bracketed by stressful travel and trying to find time to unwind. What happens when you add having to manage sleep apnea and a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to the mix? 

Dr. Carleara Weiss, sleep science adviser for Aeroflow, explained some of the ways traveling can exacerbate sleep issues for people who use a CPAP machine. She spoke with us about how to prepare patients so they can spend time relaxing on vacation rather than losing sleep. 

1. You can (and should) take it with you. 

Some CPAP users think they can ditch their device when they travel. It’s vacation, so why should they have to worry about lugging extra baggage around? According to Weiss, this is the wrong mindset to have.

“It’s really important to emphasize, if you’re traveling on vacation, please bring your CPAP,” Weiss said. 

Sleep therapy providers should be sure to highlight to users that bringing along a CPAP device, as it maintains compliance and means they are more likely to get proper sleep throughout their trip. 

“You want to go on vacation to make sure that you rest and enjoy yourself,” Weiss said. “If you don’t bring your CPAP, you’re not going to have that restful sleep. So, you’re going to come back from vacation feeling worse than when you went.”

2. Don’t get left behind. 

If CPAP users decide not to bring (or use) their CPAP while traveling, these are possible impacts:

A decline in compliance could impact how a patient’s insurance company handles their CPAP. Weiss said it’s difficult for patients who don’t travel with their CPAP to go back to the minimum hours needed for compliance. 

Reports of side effects such as headaches, dry mouth, irritability and daytime sleepiness.

3. Add to your packing checklist.  

Make sure CPAP users know what to bring when they travel:

• Their CPAP machine, gear and mask
• A reliable power supply/battery
• Humidifier
• Distilled water
• Necessary plug adaptors 

4. Fly the friendly skies.

 When traveling by air, CPAP devices should be treated as carry-on luggage and should not be checked. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, “A nebulizer, CPAP, BiPAP and APAP must be removed from its carrying case and undergo X-ray screening. Face masks and tubing may remain in the case. You may provide a clear plastic bag to place the device through the X-ray.” 

Most airlines allow passengers to bring their CPAP and use it on the flight. Airlines that do allow CPAPs to be used on flights typically require the user bring their own power supply or battery. Sometimes, airlines request early notification while booking the flight; other airlines just ask that you bring a doctor’s note to show before using it during the flight. Additionally, airlines will not count the medical device as one of the passenger’s carry-on items.

5. Consider a travel version. 

Travel CPAP machines offer more flexibility than a typical CPAP machine such as:

• Portability
• Lightweight
• Some do not need a humidifier
• Quieter

Travel CPAP machines are great solutions for people who find themselves on the go a lot. Weiss said people who travel a lot for work or vacation would be great candidates for travel CPAP machines. Weiss recommended users check with their medical providers and insurance to see what their best options are. 

6. Make sure they know before they go.

Providers should remember that traveling for anyone can be tough, and traveling with additional baggage, such as a CPAP machine, can make everything feel heavier—physically and mentally. Weiss said providers should be nonjudgmental and flexible with patients and should share any available resources with them.

“I work with older adults; [they] sometimes think it’s a hassle to bring their CPAP machine, until I tell them about the options for a portable one, and how they can bring it as a carry-on item,” Weiss said. “It’s important to have that openness to discuss the possibilities and options, and make sure that the patients feel open to tell us what they have in mind, so we can share the benefits of traveling with the CPAP machine.”