Using CPAP machines to cure your sleep apnea but instead developing another new disease is disappointing. Reports show that the Philips recalled machines are a cause of Pneumonia in several sleep apnea patients. In such cases, Philips CPAP lawsuits can pay your medical bills.
How does a CPAP machine cause Pneumonia?
As ridiculous as it may seem, CPAP machines can cause several health hazards if they are defects.
Pneumonia is a lung disease where your lung gets infected by bacteria or virus and starts dysfunctioning. This causes your lungs to get inflamed and fill with liquid or pus, making it hard for oxygen to flow in your bloodstream.
Studies have shown that sleep apnea patients who use these machines develop a greater risk of Pneumonia because it can directly blow bacteria and viruses into their lungs and cause respiratory infections.
Recently, Philips has recalled several models of mechanical ventilators, Bi-Level PAP and CPAP machines. Due to a design defect, many consumers were faced with deadly diseases like cancer and Pneumonia.
How to protect yourself from Pneumonia and other diseases:
CPAP is an essential device for sleep apnea patients and cannot be removed permanently. Therefore, to make sure you can safely continue using it, you should take the necessary steps.
- Keep the machine clean: Keeping the machine clean does not only mean cleaning the dust off its surface. It’s crucial to open up its parts, such as the hoses and masks, and clean them thoroughly to avoid inhaling any dust. Cleaning off dust and storing it in a hygienic place will do the trick.
- Check for defects: The machine may be working fine when you first buy it, but it’s vital to keep checking it for defects every one or two weeks or when it suddenly starts making you feel uneasy.
- Sanitize your machine: Sanitizing will keep away the bacteria and microbes that the naked eye cannot see.
- Regular changing your CPAP mask: Change your CPAP mask promptly to avoid bacterial infection flowing through the mask.
For sleep apnea patients, CPAP machines are a blessing. However, carelessness can lead to significant diseases. But sometimes, as in the case of Philips, it’s not the user’s but the company’s fault. Due to the inhalation of foam particles and chemicals, many Philips users file lawsuits to get compensation.
Contact the Shouse Injury Law Group if your life is at risk because of the manufacturer’s fault.