Continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, devices are used to treat sleep apnea. By forcing air into the lungs, these machines ensure that a person will continue to breathe normally while they are sleeping. Effective treatment of sleep apnea has many benefits. However, the use of defective CPAP devices may increase the chances that a person will experience serious health conditions. One manufacturer, Philips Respironics, has recalled millions of CPAP machines because they contained a type of foam that could break down and release dangerous particles and chemicals. Users of the recalled devices may face the risk of multiple types of injuries and serious health conditions, including lung inflammation.

Symptoms and Effects of Lung Inflammation

Inflammation of the lungs involves irritation and swelling of the tissues in and around the body’s airways. When these tissues become inflamed, they can restrict airflow and make it more difficult for the body to absorb oxygen into the bloodstream. Some symptoms of lung inflammation include:

• Coughing and wheezing

  ...

In June of 2021, the medical device manufacturer Philips Respironics issued a recall of millions of CPAP devices because they contained a foam that could break down and enter a person’s airways, causing serious health issues. These devices are used by people to treat sleep apnea, and the recall has left many people uncertain about how they can continue to receive the treatment they need. While finding new CPAP solutions may be an inconvenience for some, it is a much larger issue for truck drivers, and those who do not receive the proper treatment for sleep apnea may be unable to continue working in their chosen career.

Sleep Apnea Treatment for Truck Drivers

Sleep apnea is a condition that causes a person to intermittently stop breathing while they are sleeping. Those who suffer from sleep apnea will often struggle to get enough rest, even when they sleep the proper number of hours each night. Because sleep apnea affects a person’s quality of sleep, it may lead to issues such as drowsiness, irritability, lack of concentration, and memory problems. 

Untreated sleep apnea can be especially dangerous for truck drivers. Nodding off while behind the wheel can lead to dangerous collisions that may cause serious injuries to a driver, people in other vehicles, or anyone else who is involved. Even if a person does not struggle to stay awake, they may suffer from a lack of alertness or difficulty focusing on the road, which may cause them to miss important details that would help them avoid potential collisions. A 2020 study found that as many as 49% of truck drivers may be at risk of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a common condition that affects millions of people in the United States. The use of a CPAP machine is one of the most effective ways of treating this condition. However, many CPAP users have been affected by a recall of these devices by Philips Respironics. The recalled CPAP machines contained a polyurethane foam that could break down, leading users to breathe in small particles while using a device. These particles and other chemicals released by the breakdown of the foam may cause multiple serious health conditions, including lung cancer. By understanding how they may have been affected by these issues, CPAP users can work with an attorney to determine their options for pursuing compensation from the manufacturer of a device that injured them.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

While lung cancer can affect a person’s lung functions, making it difficult to breathe or process oxygen, its effects do not always become evident until a person’s condition has progressed to an advanced stage. A person with lung cancer may experience symptoms such as:

Sleep apnea is an issue that affects millions of people in the United States. This condition causes a person to stop breathing periodically while they are sleeping. It can affect a person’s quality of sleep, causing them to experience drowsiness and fatigue during the day because they are unable to get enough rest while sleeping. It can also lead to other serious health issues, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and increased risks of strokes. For many people, CPAP machines are an effective treatment for sleep apnea, but a large number of these devices have been recalled because they contained materials that could be harmful to their users’ health. Those who have used recalled CPAP machines should understand the potential health issues that could affect them and the circumstances that may have caused devices to be more likely to cause serious injuries or other health issues.

Toxic Substances in CPAP Machines

Philips Respironics has recalled millions of CPAP machines, as well as BiPAP devices and ventilators used by people at home and at hospitals or other medical facilities. This recall is being performed because the devices used a sound-dampening foam that can break down over the lifetime of a device. Users of the devices may inhale small particles of foam, as well as chemicals that are released when the foam degrades.

While foam may break down in any of the recalled devices, there are some circumstances that may increase the likelihood of this type of degradation and put a device’s users at a higher risk of experiencing health issues. High temperatures and humidity levels can cause the foam to break down more quickly, so those in warmer or more humid climates may be at a higher level of risk.