Symptoms, issues and diagnosis of sleep apnoea - Cardio Respiratory Sleep Australia

Dear Patients and Referrers,

COVID-19 has significantly impacted the way which CVS/CRS operates, both in WA and VIC. We strictly follow all local and national health guidelines and our services and internal procedures have been reviewed to minimise virus transmission risk to both our patients and our staff.

We are committed to continuing to provide high quality patient care and delivering an excellent patient experience during this time, therefore we want to assure all of our patients of a safe environment and encourage our patients to continue to attend their required appointments. It is important that you do not delay your cardiac, respiratory or sleep testing during this time.

We encourage our patients and referrers to email us at adminteam@cvs.net.au to ensure an efficiently and timely handling of your request, and ask that our patients follow relevant COVID-Safe guidelines when attending our clinics.

CVS and CRS are doing everything we can to continue to deliver, when you need us most. Our thoughts are with you as we work through this together.

Yours sincerely,
Dr Philip Currie
CEO, Cardiologist

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What is Sleep Apnoea?

Sleep apnoea (also known as sleep apnea or obstructive sleep apnoea) is a condition which affects your airways while you sleep, leading to trouble breathing. It occurs when the walls of the throat relax and block off your upper airway.

Sleep apnoea can be classified into two types:

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) – This occurs when the upper airway repeatedly narrows or collapses, blocking the flow of air and causing breathing issues during sleep.
Central Sleep Apnoea (CSA) – This occurs when the brain doesn’t signal the breathing muscles properly, resulting in disrupted breathing despite a clear airway.

If your airways close enough to impact oxygen levels or your breathing pauses for more than 10 seconds, it is classified as apnoea.

As a guide, the severity of your sleep apnea is determined by how many times your breathing is disrupted per hour while sleeping. This can be discovered through a sleep study.

How is Sleep Apnoea Diagnosed?

Sleep apnoea can be easily and accurately diagnosed via an accrediated sleep specialist practice by being referred by a medical practitioner when deemed necessary a sleep study.

Depending on suitability factors you may have either an at-home sleep study or one carried out in a lab/hospital.

During an in-lab sleep study you spend the night in a private room at a hospital where you are monitored, and data collected via machine while you sleep. You muscle movement, brain waves and any snoring, among other data, is recorded.

While it may seem strange to fall to sleep connected to equipment via leads (small cords or wires), most people fall asleep normally. The study is painless, non-invasive and supervised by a highly qualified sleep technician.

Your sleep study results will show whether you have had a restful sleep or how many times your sleep was interrupted during the night, from breathing difficulties.

Some sleep tests may be reimbursed by Medicare and your private health funds. Please make the enquiries directly with your private health insurance company to see if your private health cover may cover some of the costs to have an inpatient sleep study as it depends on your type, level and particular health fund if you qualify for a rebate.

How is Sleep Apnoea Treated?

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) can be managed and treated it is very important patients seek professional sleep specialist guidance and support from highly qualified sleep scientist and sleep technologists that are university qualified and experienced to work in Sleep Medicine.

It is important for patients to do their research as to where and who they are receiving treatment advice from as it is a medical condition and sleep treatment does take specialist knowledge and expertise to treat successfully.

Treatment will depend on the severity of your sleep apnoea and can range from lifestyle changes to medical devices, including:

Positional Therapy – OSA that occurs when laying on your back may only require positional therapy, such as with a nightshift device. This device will vibrate and prompt you to roll off your back, reducing snoring and apnoea. CRS does offer reasonably priced professional trials of a Nightshift Device. It would be wise to trial the device prior to purchasing to ensure you need it and you are satisfied that the device is helpful to treating your positional OSA.
Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) – Mild to moderate cases of OSA may be treatable by wearing a MAD. This device is worn in the mouth during sleep and helps to position your jaw to maintain better airway flow.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) – Moderate to severe cases of OSA will usually require CPAP therapy. This treatment uses a mask which covers your nose and mouth to blow a continuous stream of air into your airways and prevent them from being blocked.
AutoTitration Positive Airway Pressure (APAP) – This small device is used to treat OSA and CSA. It’s similar to CPAP, except it’s able to monitor resistance in the airways and adjust its pressure according to your needs. This gives it a distinct advantage over CPAP therapy, which maintains a constant pressure.
Adaptive Servo Ventilation (ASV) – This device is used for more severe cases of OSA and CSA. It advances even further on PAP technology by both maintaining open airways and breathing for you when your breathing response fails. This can help to ensure a consistent rate and rhythm of breathing during sleep.

Sleep Apnoea FAQs

What are the symptoms of sleep apnoea?

Some common symptoms of sleep apnoea include:

Excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue
Morning headaches
Severe difficulty waking and rising
Choking feeling during the night
Falling asleep during the day or needing frequent naps

Does living with OSA ever get better?

The CRS team of Sleep Physicians and highly qualified and experienced sleep scientists, CPAP therapists, sleep technologists will work closely with patients to individualise treatment and provide options for patients. We will do our best in optimising and individualising treatment options for patients to assist treating OSA as effectively as possible.

Weight is generally a significant contributing factor to OSA but can be difficult to combat when you lack energy and motivation due to poor quality of sleep. CPAP and other devices can help to improve your energy levels by reducing sleep apnoea, giving you a better chance at reducing your contributing lifestyle factors.

Are devices such as CPAP hard to use?

CPAP machines are medical devices for a medical condition. Although they have reduced in size and sound over the years it is highly recommended to trial a CPAP machine with a credible provider for at least a month. Trial different masks, machines to ensure you are giving yourself the best opportunity to achieve treatment success. And ensure you are going to a local Sleep Specialist Provider that allows you to trial different CPAP machines, masks over a period of time whereby you can attain one-one clinical advice by a qualified sleep technologist or CPAP therapist that works directly and under the guidance of a local Sleep Physician.

CPAP machines do take time to adjust so it is not wise to be taking on this form of medical treatment without the guidance and support of a CPAP Sleep Specialist Service. Some models are easier to use and come with automatic settings so that pressure delivery is regulated by the machine.

If you’re having trouble, the trained technicians at CRS can help you through the first four weeks of CPAP machine use and support your long-term treatment is always only a phone call or email away if you are a patient of CRS and are conducting your CPAP Trial through Cardio Respiratory Sleep (CRS). After some practice sleeping with the mask, the CPAP machine will contribute to a longer and better quality night’s sleep. This can also mean the rest of your family and others sleeping in the household can also get back to having restorative sleep which is essential for our health and well being.

Are the breathing masks used for CPAP very large?

CPAP and other assistive breathing devices use a range of different masks. The smallest of these is called a nasal pillow and consists of prongs that fit just inside the nose. Other masks can cover the nose or both the nose and mouth. They are less invasive than you may think and are easy to get used to wearing.

Is sleep apnoea dangerous?

Sleep apnoea can lead to headaches, fatigue and many other symptoms. If left untreated it can also place excessive strain on the heart, resulting in higher blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular issues and stroke. Untreated sleep apnoea has also been associated with excessive weight gain and Type 2 diabetes.

Sleep Apnoea Myths and Facts

Myth: Obstructive sleep apnoea only occurs in obese individuals.

Fact: While obesity is a major risk factor for developing Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, OSA is also common in non-obese individuals. Age, gender and ethnicity are all noticeable contributing factors for developing OSA. Muscles around our airways can weaken as we age, while males are statistically more likely to develop OSA.

Myth: Snoring and sleep apnoea are the same thing.

Fact: Snoring is caused by air vibrating on its way through the upper airway, while an apnoea only occurs if the airways are obstructed or if breathing pauses for more than 10 seconds. You can snore and not have sleep apnoea, but snoring can be a sign of sleep apnoea. If you experience excessive daytime sleepiness and snoring, a sleep study can help to diagnose whether you have sleep apnoea.

Myth: CPAP machines which are used to treat sleep apnoea are large. and noisy.

Fact: When they were first invented CPAP machines were large and noisy. However, modern CPAP machines are roughly the size of an alarm clock and make about the same noise as a desktop computer. Any excess noise can normally be attributed to poorly fitting masks.

Myth: Sleep apnoea isn’t a dangerous sleep disorder.

Fact: Excessive daytime sleepiness caused by sleep apnoea increases the risk of accidents while at work or on the road. Sleep apnoea can contribute to high blood pressure, mental health issues and cognitive decline. Severe sleep apnoea has also been linked to long term health risks such as heart attacks, strokes and diabetes. It’s important to treat sleep apnoea as soon as possible to avoid long-term risks and damage to your health.

Book a Sleep Study Today

Book online today to organise an in-lab or a home-based sleep study. You will need a referral from your doctor and you are able to attach your referral with any additional medical notes when making a booking enquiry on online. Or simply phone CRS to make a booking today.

CRS are able to book sleep studies promptly.

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