Patient FAQs

 

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea and snoring are common Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB) problems that can affect your sleep, health and overall quality of life. Normally the muscles that control the upper airway relax during sleep, if they relax too much, the upper airway becomes narrow and some people begin to snore. If the airway becomes too narrow, this may cause breathing difficulties sometimes, the airway becomes completely blocked and the person temporarily stops breathing, they are experiencing an "obstructive apnea." The apnea can last for ten seconds or more, it may happen frequently and even several hundred times a night.      

 
Airway open Airway narrow Airway closed
 Airway open  Airway narrow  Airway closed
     

 

If you have this condition every time an apnea occurs you struggle to breathe. This places stress on your brain and heart, night after night, your sleep is disrupted. You will experience the kind of tiredness that affects the quality of your life, work and relationships. Your partner may witness tell-tale signs of Sleep Apnea while you sleep - snoring followed by a long period of silence, and then, perhaps, a loud snort or a gasp as you resume breathing. Sleep Apnea is as widespread as asthma and diabetes yet often remains undiagnosed.

 

Symptoms from lack of sleep are often what prompt people with OSA to visit their doctor. These may include:

  • Excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Heavy snoring
  • Poor concentration
  • Poor memory
  • Depression

Why is Sleep Apnea a serious risk to your health?

Every time an apnea occurs, your body increases its effort to breathe and your vital organs struggle for oxygen. This alerts your brain to wake up and make you breathe again. You may have several hundred apneas a night and the adverse affects on your body build up night after night, day after day.

Research shows that snoring and Sleep Apnea are associated with many serious conditions. Left untreated, your condition is a contributing risk factor in high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and depression.

 

How common is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea is the most common sleep disorder. It can affect people of any age - from newborn babies through to adults of either sex. 1 in 5 adults suffer from Sleep Apnea (1 in 15 have severe Sleep Apnea), a prevalence greater than that of asthma and diabetes.

 

What are the causes of Sleep Apnea?

Causes and risk factors of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

  • Snoring - can cause the soft palate to lengthen, which in turn can obstruct the airway
  • Hypertension (more than 1 in 3 people with hypertension suffer from OSA)
  • Diabetes (approximately 1 in 2 people with type 2 diabetes suffer from OSA)
  • Obesity (the heavier a person gets, the greater the risk of OSA)
  • Family history of Sleep Apnea
  • Small upper airway (large tongue, large uvula, recessed chin, excess tissue in the throat and/or soft palate)
  • Shape of head and neck - may create a smaller than normal airway
  • Large tonsils or adenoids or other anatomical differences. Difficulties breathing during sleep can be created by conditions such as deviated septum, enlarged tongue or receding chin
  • Throat muscles and tongue relax more than normal during sleep (may sometimes be due to alcohol or sedative use before bedtime)
  • Smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke
  • Nasal congestion, nasal blockages, and nasal irritants

How do I know if I have Sleep Apnea?

If you snore regularly and experience constant daytime sleepiness, you may have Sleep Apnea.

The checklist that can help you identify some of the signs of Sleep Apnea is as follows:

  • Has your partner noticed that you gasp or stop breathing during sleep?
  • Do you often wake up feeling unrefreshed?
  • Do you experience daytime sleepiness?
  • Have your energy and motivation levels decreased?
  • Do you find it difficult to concentrate?

If you answer ‘yes' to any of the questions below, you may be at greater risk from Sleep Apnea:

  • Are you a heavy snorer?
  • Is there a history of Sleep Apnea in your family?
  • Do you suffer from high blood pressure?
  • Do you have type 2 diabetes?
  • Are you overweight?
  • Have you suffered a stroke or heart attack/disease?

What are the different types of Sleep Apnea?

There are three types of Sleep Apnea: 
1.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

  • The most common type of Sleep Apnea
  • 1 in 5 adults present with OSA; 1 in 15 present with severe OSA
  • Occurs when your upper airway closes but your efforts to breathe continue
  • Is more common in those older than 50 years
  • Is more common in men than women
  • Can occur in children
2.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) / Cheyne-Stokes Respiration (CSR)

  • Is uncommon/only 5-10% of Sleep Apnea population
  • Occurs when your breathing effort stops but your airway stays open
  • This cessation of breathing results from changes in oxygen and C02. It is a central nervous system disorder
  • Can be caused by disease or injury involving the brainstem, such as a stroke, a brain tumour, a viral brain infection, chronic respiratory disease or congestive heart failure
  • People with CSA seldom snore, which makes it even harder to diagnose as they do not fit the "normal" profile of a Sleep Apnea sufferer
3. 

Mixed Sleep Apnea

  • Is even less common
  • A mixture of both OSA and CSA
  • A person with Mixed Sleep Apnea will often snore, but finds that treatments which only help obstructions in the airways do not completely stop apnea episodes

How do I get tested for Sleep Apnea?

Medicare now offer rebates on sleep tests conducted in the comfort of your own home. Simply call 1300 WAKE UP (1300 925 387) and our friendly staff will book you an appointment with a diagnostic consultant, and will provide you with a ResSleep referral form to take to your doctor. You will need your doctor to fill in and sign your referral form. On the day of your appointment bring along your signed refferal form and you will be given a device (about the size of a mobile phone) to take home which will record your sleep activity. The following day, you will return the device to the ResSleep clinic and data will be downloaded from the device and a report will be generated. You will be advised of the results within 2 weeks. Your sleep test results will be prepared by a local Sleep Physician and if there is a need for consultation with a Sleep Physician you will be notified in your sleep test report.

Do I need a prescription to be tested?

Although it's not a legal requirement, we recommend that you get a referral form from your doctor to have an in-home sleep test. Medicare will only offer reimbursement on sleep tests where a qualified doctor has referred. If you need a CPAP device to treat your Sleep Apnea your doctor can refer you to ResSleep for a treatment trial.

How is Sleep Apnea treated?

Positive airway pressure therapy is the most effective and widespread treatment available for Sleep Apnea and it does not involve drugs or surgery. A bedside sleep therapy system delivers air via a mask or nasal pillows system to keep your upper airway open.

The basic form of this treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or fixed CPAP therapy which provides one constant air pressure all through the night.

An alternative treatment is automatic positive airway pressure (APAP) therapy, which automatically varies the pressure all through the night and from night to night. It actively responds to the continuous changes in your upper airway.

In some cases, a Sleep Physican may recommend another form of positive airway pressure therapy, called bilevel therapy. This provides a higher pressure when you breathe in and a lower pressure when you breathe out.

There is also Adaptive-Servo Ventilation (ASV) therapy which is designed specifically to combat CSA in all its forms, including mixed events.

Every form of positive airway pressure therapy involves wearing a mask or nasal pillows system.

Benefits of treatment

Positive airway pressure therapy helps milliions of people all over the world to enjoy healthier sleep and a healthier, happier life.

Treating Sleep Apnea can reduce the risk of developing associated diseases. It can also help you feel more energetic so you can do all the things you want to do.

As soon as you start treatment you should start noticing improvements.

 

Where can I go to get treated?

Any of our ResSleep clinics, located Australia wide can help you get started with your treatment. We will provide you with an initial mask fitting and education on how to use your sleep therapy system, ongoing clinical support as well as overnight monitoring to reassess your treatment if required.

Find your nearest ResSleep clinic

Do I need a prescription for treatment?

 Although it's not a legal requirement, it is always a good idea to discuss treatment options with your doctor.

 

For information on ResMed equipment, please visit the ResMed website

 
 
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