No, it’s not illegal to change CPAP pressure settings in the USA. See, so far, if you were confused about whether or not changing your CPAP pressure will get you in some legal trouble in any way, then you’re wrong, it is just perfectly fine in that case. That just doesn’t mean you should do it all the time, like get a screwdriver and start tinkering with it or maybe just you start punching buttons like crazy. Nah, you shouldn’t be doing that and sure enough, there is a lot more you should get to know about this whole CPAP pressure thing. And that’s precisely what we are up to today, so, let’s just get to that, shall we?
What’s a CPAP Machine and Why’s Pressure Such a Big Thing?
Before anything else, just know that CPAP actually stands for Continuous positive airway pressure, and it is just a machine that keeps mild or steady air pressure to keep your airways open while you sleep. Simple as that! And yes, it is a doctor-prescribed gadget for mainly people with some health issues like sleep apnea or something like that. Yes, it is a bit hard for some people out there when they all of sudden stop breathing when sleeping, and that’s just annoying and risky at all. So? Well, this small machine can pump a steady or mild air pressure through a mask on your nose or mouth, this is how it keeps your airways open while you sleep.
And what is that pressure-changing thing then? Like, can you change the air pressure on your own? Well, yes, you can, and it is usually set between 6 to 14, but keep in mind though, most of the time, it is actually set by a doctor. You know, depending upon what pressure would be the right one for your particular body, at your particular age.
What else is this pressure important for, like what other benefits are there? You see, just by keeping your airways open at night while you sleep, you can also solve your snoring, choking and crazy tiredness problems that usually are associated with sleep apnea.
So, Can Changing That Pressure On Your Own Lands You In Some Legal Trouble?
Well, just like we already told you about it, it is a big fat NO. This means, you’re allowed to change that pressure on your own without worrying about anything, like, when you change the pressure on that tiny machine, the police won’t show up at your place and arrest you for that. It just doesn’t work like that.
As of 2025, you see, right here in the USA, there’s no law out there saying you can’t tweak the settings on your own machine. So, you’re pretty much good to go. But the thing is, you can’t just go ahead and order a CPAP on your own, it is a prescription thing, which means it is actually your doctor who orders it for you with specific instructions.