Faq's

frequently asked questions
  • 1
    Sharing a bed / relationship issues

    Snoring and sleep apnea cause sleep loss for both the snorer and anyone unlucky enough to share a bed with him or her. Sometimes the snorer will be subjected to repeated punches, kicks, tugs, pulls and shoves from a partner who can’t sleep due to the noise and who hopes “manually repositioning” the snorer’s body will solve the problem!

  • 2
    Sleep deprivation

    Although a person with sleep apnea usually sleeps through each apnea episode, particularly loud snoring may wake them up several times during the course of a night, as might the jerking of their body as they fight for breath to resume. Seek treatment for sleep apnea and you will find that the symptoms of sleep deprivation which have become part of your life will be alleviated immediately.

  • 3
    Living with Sleep Apnea

    There are numerous obvious problems that people with sleep apnea will need either to overcome or to learn to live with. But don’t despair! If you seek proper medical advice, take that advice, and look after yourself, you will be able to live happily despite your sleep apnea.

     

  • 4
    What is Titration?

    Adjustment of your CPAP device so that it delivers the correct treatment pressure

    Unlike pharmaceuticals that have fairly standard prescription dosages, CPAP therapy requires a patient-specific titration, which may need changing over time.

  • 5
    A failure to use CPAP therapy may increase one’s risk for conditions linked to untreated OSA:
    1. Hypertension (OSA increases your risk of hypertension by five times)
    2. Stroke
    3. Congestive heart failure (CHF)
  • 6
    Successful CPAP users report improvements in:
    1. Vitality and motivation
    2. Job performance
    3. Mood
    4. Sexual drive and performance
    5. Alertness while driving
    6. Quality of life
    7. Quality of sleep
  • 7
    Beginning CPAP Treatment

    The proper treatment pressure, a comfortable system, and good education often mean the difference between success and failure for CPAP users.

    Treatment success means sleeping better and getting more enjoyment out of waking hours.

    It can also mean lowering blood pressure and resolving OSA symptoms.

  • 8
    How does CPAP therapy work?

    Air is pushed from the flow generator through the tubing and mask, the air then passes through the nose and into the throat, where the slight pressure keeps the upper airway open. The low air pressure does not interfere with breathing – though some people need a few nights to get used to the sensation of positive airflow.

  • 9
    CPAP- (pronounced “see-pap”)

    Short for “continuous positive airway pressure.” Positive airway pressure therapy is the most effective noninvasive treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

  • 10
    Diagnosing OSA

    Overnight Stay: The established way to provide accurate diagnosis of apneas and flow-limited breathing is by a single overnight stay called a polysomography in a clinic, with specialists monitoring your sleep throughout the night to provide the best diagnosis and prescribe the best treatment options for you.

    At home: Recently, another way to accurately diagnose apneas and flow limited breathing has been developed and proven effective. A study that can be conducted at home, using a scaled down portable system that takes measurement during the night’s sleep. These results are then shared with your sleep specialist to determine and prescribe the best treatment options for you.

  • 11
    What is OSA?

    If you snore, you might have a common sleeping disorder called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

    If you have OSA, it means your upper airway temporarily collapses while you sleep, causing you to stop breathing. These periods when your breathing stops (called apnea) can last for more than ten seconds and may happen up to several hundred times a night.

    This puts a strain on your body, raising blood pressure and reducing your quality of sleep. These repeated apneas reduce your oxygen levels, and this alerts your brain to wake the body to begin breathing again.

    You are unlikely to remember this happening but you may feel tired the following day. You may even wake yourself up in the middle of the night thinking that you need to go to the toilet, but this may be your body’s response to waking up from an apnea.

    If you are overweight or have type 2 diabetes, your chance of having OSA is increased. The associated risk of health complications is also raised.

    Getting diagnosed and effectively treated is important to reduce these risks.