FAQ
What is OSA?
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder caused by recurrent partial and complete closure of the upper airway (back of the nose and throat) during sleep. In severe cases this can occur several hundred times per night. Research suggests that a quarter of men over 30 have some degree of OSA, and 10% of women. Common symptoms include snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep (apnoeas) and daytime tiredness.
Who gets OSA?
A number of different risk factors for OSA have been recognised. The most common is being overweight, with OSA severity directly linked to the degree of obesity. Other influences include male gender, family history, and upper airway abnormalities such as enlarged tonsils. Certain lifestyle factors can increase OSA severity such as alcohol, sedative medications, and sleeping supine (on one’s back).
How does OSA affect your health?
OSA leads to disrupted, poor quality sleep, and recurrent falls in blood oxygen levels overnight. OSA is now known to be associated with a number of significant health problems including:
How do I know if I have OSA?
Accurate diagnosis of OSA requires some form of overnight sleep study (see below). However, there are a number of symptoms which can strongly suggest OSA. These include regular snoring, witnessed pauses in breathing overnight, waking unrefreshed in the morning and daytime sleepiness. Other symptoms include morning headache, frequent waking overnight and frequent passing urine overnight.
How is OSA diagnosed?
While some patients have symptoms have strongly suggestive of OSA, correct diagnosis requires some form of overnight Sleep Study. This is important because often simple snoring and OSA can be very difficult to differentiate. Furthermore, other conditions can mimic OSA and require very different treatment.
Cansleep performs 4 main types of sleep study:
Level 2 Full Polysomnographic Sleep Study
The most comprehensive sleep study which measures sleep staging, arousal measurement, nasal airflow, breathing effort, oxygen levels, snoring, nocturnal leg movements, electrocardiogram, heart rate, and body position
Level 3 Study
Provides a comprehensive measurement of breathing overnight including nasal airflow, breathing effort, oxygen levels, snoring, heart rate and body position. Allows accurate assessment of OSA and exclusion of other sleep disorders.
Compass Study
Measures nasal airflow, heart rate and oxygen levels. Sensitive for diagnosing OSA but may be unable to distinguish other sleep-related breathing disorders
Level 4 Study (overnight oximetry)
Measures oxygen levels and heart rate. Screening test, helpful if positive but may miss significant OSA in up to 40% of patients. Used mainly to confirm OSA in high probability patients and monitor response to treatment.
How is OSA treated ?
Conservative measures such as reduction in alcohol intake, stopping smoking, and avoiding sleeping on one’s back may help to modify OSA severity. In overweight patients weight loss of as little as 10% can significantly reduce OSA severity and improve symptoms.
CPAP (continuous nasal airway pressure) is the most widely accepted and cost-effective treatment for OSA. CPAP delivers positive air pressure the upper airway via a comfortable nasal or nose/mouth mask which keeps the airway open and prevents both snoring and obstruction. In most cases CPAP normalises both the daytime sleepiness and the cardiovascular risk associated with OSA. CPAP treatment is best initiated by an experienced sleep technologist to optimise mask fit and avoid early side effects such as facial discomfort and nasal irritation. Regular and ongoing CPAP use is required for effective treatment.
Oral appliances (such as a mandibular advancement splint) are an effective second line treatment for OSA and may be effective for more mild disease or where CPAP is not tolerated. These are best custom made by an experienced dental practitioner.
Upper airway surgery has a role in OSA management, particularly where there is a clearly defined anatomical abnormality such as enlarged tonsils.
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder caused by recurrent partial and complete closure of the upper airway (back of the nose and throat) during sleep. In severe cases this can occur several hundred times per night. Research suggests that a quarter of men over 30 have some degree of OSA, and 10% of women. Common symptoms include snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep (apnoeas) and daytime tiredness.
Who gets OSA?
A number of different risk factors for OSA have been recognised. The most common is being overweight, with OSA severity directly linked to the degree of obesity. Other influences include male gender, family history, and upper airway abnormalities such as enlarged tonsils. Certain lifestyle factors can increase OSA severity such as alcohol, sedative medications, and sleeping supine (on one’s back).
How does OSA affect your health?
OSA leads to disrupted, poor quality sleep, and recurrent falls in blood oxygen levels overnight. OSA is now known to be associated with a number of significant health problems including:
- Increased risk of motor vehicle accidents
- High blood pressure
- Heart attack and stroke
- Low mood
- Poor memory
- Erectile dysfunction
- Diabetes
How do I know if I have OSA?
Accurate diagnosis of OSA requires some form of overnight sleep study (see below). However, there are a number of symptoms which can strongly suggest OSA. These include regular snoring, witnessed pauses in breathing overnight, waking unrefreshed in the morning and daytime sleepiness. Other symptoms include morning headache, frequent waking overnight and frequent passing urine overnight.
How is OSA diagnosed?
While some patients have symptoms have strongly suggestive of OSA, correct diagnosis requires some form of overnight Sleep Study. This is important because often simple snoring and OSA can be very difficult to differentiate. Furthermore, other conditions can mimic OSA and require very different treatment.
Cansleep performs 4 main types of sleep study:
Level 2 Full Polysomnographic Sleep Study
The most comprehensive sleep study which measures sleep staging, arousal measurement, nasal airflow, breathing effort, oxygen levels, snoring, nocturnal leg movements, electrocardiogram, heart rate, and body position
Level 3 Study
Provides a comprehensive measurement of breathing overnight including nasal airflow, breathing effort, oxygen levels, snoring, heart rate and body position. Allows accurate assessment of OSA and exclusion of other sleep disorders.
Compass Study
Measures nasal airflow, heart rate and oxygen levels. Sensitive for diagnosing OSA but may be unable to distinguish other sleep-related breathing disorders
Level 4 Study (overnight oximetry)
Measures oxygen levels and heart rate. Screening test, helpful if positive but may miss significant OSA in up to 40% of patients. Used mainly to confirm OSA in high probability patients and monitor response to treatment.
How is OSA treated ?
Conservative measures such as reduction in alcohol intake, stopping smoking, and avoiding sleeping on one’s back may help to modify OSA severity. In overweight patients weight loss of as little as 10% can significantly reduce OSA severity and improve symptoms.
CPAP (continuous nasal airway pressure) is the most widely accepted and cost-effective treatment for OSA. CPAP delivers positive air pressure the upper airway via a comfortable nasal or nose/mouth mask which keeps the airway open and prevents both snoring and obstruction. In most cases CPAP normalises both the daytime sleepiness and the cardiovascular risk associated with OSA. CPAP treatment is best initiated by an experienced sleep technologist to optimise mask fit and avoid early side effects such as facial discomfort and nasal irritation. Regular and ongoing CPAP use is required for effective treatment.
Oral appliances (such as a mandibular advancement splint) are an effective second line treatment for OSA and may be effective for more mild disease or where CPAP is not tolerated. These are best custom made by an experienced dental practitioner.
Upper airway surgery has a role in OSA management, particularly where there is a clearly defined anatomical abnormality such as enlarged tonsils.