Everyday life with CPAP
Using CPAP With a Cold or Stuffy Nose
Most people can keep using CPAP with a cold, and a heated humidifier often makes it more comfortable. If your nose is blocked, a full face mask lets you breathe through your mouth. Saline spray and other remedies can help, but stop and call your doctor if you get ear pressure or ear pain.
Signs
- Stuffy or blocked nose
- Runny nose
- Mouth breathing that breaks a nasal mask seal
- Sore throat
- Dry nose or mouth
Common causes
- Nasal congestion
- A blocked nose makes breathing through a nasal or nasal pillows mask hard, so you may breathe through your mouth.
- Dry air on irritated tissue
- Dry air can worsen a raw nose and throat. ResMed UK describes heated humidification as a way to make CPAP with a cold more comfortable.
- Germs on equipment
- Germs from your throat and mouth can get into the mask and hose, so cleaning matters more when you are sick.
Fixes to try, easiest first
Turn humidity up for dryness
ResMed UK suggests turning up humidity if you have a dry nose or mouth, and turning it down if moisture builds in the mask.
Keep the machine below the bed
This reduces rainout when you use more humidity.
Use saline spray
ResMed UK says saline nasal spray can add moisture to the sinus passages, relieve swelling and help you breathe more easily.
Ask about decongestants or a nasal spray
ResMed UK notes decongestant medicines may help but should be taken early enough to work by bedtime, and an over the counter nasal spray can reduce inflammation. Check with your doctor or pharmacist first, especially if you have high blood pressure or heart disease.
Switch to a full face mask if you can
If your nose is blocked, a full face mask lets you breathe through your mouth and still get therapy. Ask your supplier if you can have one on hand.
Clean your equipment more often
Wash the mask, hose and water chamber with mild soap and water as your manual directs, and replace the filter on schedule.
Contact your doctor if you have ear pressure or ear pain while using CPAP with a cold, if you cannot breathe through your nose and do not have a full face mask, or if you are too uncomfortable to use CPAP at all. Get medical care right away for trouble breathing, chest pain or a high fever.
Supplies that can help
Salt water spray that moistens and clears the nose, a simple aid for the congestion and dryness some people get on CPAP.
Tubing with a built-in heating wire that keeps humidified air warm all the way to the mask, which is the main fix for rainout (water droplets …
Distilled water is what most CPAP humidifier chambers are meant to be filled with, because it leaves little or no mineral scale behind.
Plain, mild dish soap is the cleaning agent most CPAP makers and the FDA point to for masks, tubing and humidifier chambers.
The air inlet filter keeps dust and lint out of the machine and your airway; it is a cheap part that needs regular replacement.
A soft strap that supports the jaw to help keep the mouth closed, used mainly with nasal and nasal pillow masks to reduce mouth leaks.
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Mask types this applies to
Frequently asked questions
Should I use my CPAP when I have a cold?
Usually yes, because your apnea does not take a break when you are sick. Humidification, saline spray and a full face mask can help. Ask your doctor if you are too uncomfortable.
Can CPAP make a cold worse?
Dry air can irritate a sore nose and throat, which heated humidification can ease. Keeping equipment clean helps avoid reinfecting yourself.
Why do my ears hurt when I use CPAP with a cold?
Ear pressure or ear pain with a cold is a reason to contact your doctor, according to ResMed UK. Do not push through it.
Sources
Last reviewed October 11, 2026. How we research · Report an error