If you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea, it's probable that your doctor will prescribe a CPAP mask for you to wear when you sleep at night. CPAP, an acronym for continuous positive airway pressure, is a machine that delivers pressurized air that prevents the apneas from occurring. With in a week or so of using the machine, you'll start to see a dramatic decrease in the side effects that sleep apnea can cause. For example, many people who suffer with the sleeping disorder experience depression, mood swings and morning headaches, among other things. Most dangerous is the pressure it puts on the heart, which can culminate in a severe coronary heart attack that can end in death.

When faced between a heart attack and wearing a funky CPAP mask to sleep at night, most sleep apnea sufferers will choose the mask in a heartbeat. The masks can either fit over the nose or over the nose and mouth, depending on if you breathe through you mouth when you sleep. The mask is attached to tubing, which is connected to the CPAP machine. The CPAP mask is custom fit to create a seal with your face, and straps that go around the head gear portion of the mask can be adjusted to ensure a proper fit.

It is very important that the CPAP mask is sealed to your face, because if it isn't it will be rendered useless as air seeps in and out. Straps that are too loose allow the air to leak in and out, while straps that are too tight can be uncomfortable and enable the seal to break. Regardless, it's important that the CPAP mask that you choose is as comfortable as possible. If it's a pain to wear, you'll be less likely to regularly use the device and you'll be right back where you started in the first place.