Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
Your doctor must initiate the process via a referral. Evaluation by a sleep specialist is recommended for the diagnosis of Sleep Apnea. A full diagnostic sleep study provides doctors with information about how you breathe and sleep. This data will enable the sleep specialist to determine the type and severity if Sleep Apnea. It can also help to determine your treatment options. Oxygen only facilitates sleep studies. All interpretations of the sleep study results are done via our associated Sleep Specialists.
Can I die from Sleep Apnea?
Several reports have suggested sudden death in Sleep Apnea patients may occur in the middle and late part of the night or in the early hours of the Morning. This problem has been reported in patients who suffer from severe Sleep Apnea, which is associated with repeated prolonged apneas, dangerously low blood oxygen levels, irregular heart rhythms, sleep disruption and excessive daytime sleepiness. For this reason it is vital to start CPAP therapy immediately after the diagnosis of Sleep Apnea has been made by a Sleep specialist.
How is Sleep Apnea treated?
The gold standard for treatment is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy. This therapy is effective in 100% of patients when used every night during sleep. Weight loss and lifestyle changes such as avoidance of alcohol, sedatives, healthy food intake, exercise and quit smoking (if you are a smoker). Patients with a high risk profile such as high blood pressure or a history of heart attack or stroke ideally should be on CPAP titration rather than other options, because there is a good chance of improvement and correction of abnormal breathing events following CPAP titration, thus minimizing the chance of recurrence of heart attack or stroke in most of these patients.
How long do I have to use CPAP?
It wil be a serious mistake for you to stop using CPAP because you are symptom free. The purpose of the CPAP is to prevent obstruction in the back of your throat so that you can breathe normally, and in that way it is symptomatic and not a curative treatment. Therefore, if you stop using your CPAP, all your breathing problems will recur and you will begin to have symptoms along with all the adverse short- and long-term consequences as mentioned in previous questions.
Effective Treatment
It will help you avoid long-term adverse effects including high-blood pressure, coronary arterial disease, heart failure, irregular heart rhythm, stroke, heart attacks, mood disorder, impotence in men and impaired short- and long-term memory.
What happens if I decline treatment?
There are serious complications and consequences if a diagnosed patient remains untreated. Conclusive studies indicate that there is an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents associated with sleep apnea. People with untreated apnea are also at risk for accidents at work, many of which end in death and severe disability. There is an increased prevalence of sleep apnea among truck drivers, which is a particular concern. Other short-term concerns include excessive sleepiness impairing your quality of life, attention, concentration, and mood. Several large studies have proven that about 50% of sleep apnea patients will develop chronic hypertension, and 30% of patients with hypertension will have sleep apnea. Several large studies have concluded that even those with an intractable hypertension that is difficult to treat may be due to sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
Your doctor must initiate the process via a referral. Evaluation by a sleep specialist is recommended for the diagnosis of Sleep Apnea. A full diagnostic sleep study provides doctors with information about how you breathe and sleep. This data will enable the sleep specialist to determine the type and severity if Sleep Apnea. It can also help to determine your treatment options. Oxygen only facilitates sleep studies. All interpretations of the sleep study results are done via our associated Sleep Specialists.
Can I die from Sleep Apnea?
Several reports have suggested sudden death in Sleep Apnea patients may occur in the middle and late part of the night or in the early hours of the Morning. This problem has been reported in patients who suffer from severe Sleep Apnea, which is associated with repeated prolonged apneas, dangerously low blood oxygen levels, irregular heart rhythms, sleep disruption and excessive daytime sleepiness. For this reason it is vital to start CPAP therapy immediately after the diagnosis of Sleep Apnea has been made by a Sleep specialist.
How is Sleep Apnea treated?
The gold standard for treatment is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy. This therapy is effective in 100% of patients when used every night during sleep. Weight loss and lifestyle changes such as avoidance of alcohol, sedatives, healthy food intake, exercise and quit smoking (if you are a smoker). Patients with a high risk profile such as high blood pressure or a history of heart attack or stroke ideally should be on CPAP titration rather than other options, because there is a good chance of improvement and correction of abnormal breathing events following CPAP titration, thus minimizing the chance of recurrence of heart attack or stroke in most of these patients.
How long do I have to use CPAP?
It wil be a serious mistake for you to stop using CPAP because you are symptom free. The purpose of the CPAP is to prevent obstruction in the back of your throat so that you can breathe normally, and in that way it is symptomatic and not a curative treatment. Therefore, if you stop using your CPAP, all your breathing problems will recur and you will begin to have symptoms along with all the adverse short- and long-term consequences as mentioned in previous questions.
Effective Treatment
It will help you avoid long-term adverse effects including high-blood pressure, coronary arterial disease, heart failure, irregular heart rhythm, stroke, heart attacks, mood disorder, impotence in men and impaired short- and long-term memory.
What happens if I decline treatment?
There are serious complications and consequences if a diagnosed patient remains untreated. Conclusive studies indicate that there is an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents associated with sleep apnea. People with untreated apnea are also at risk for accidents at work, many of which end in death and severe disability. There is an increased prevalence of sleep apnea among truck drivers, which is a particular concern. Other short-term concerns include excessive sleepiness impairing your quality of life, attention, concentration, and mood. Several large studies have proven that about 50% of sleep apnea patients will develop chronic hypertension, and 30% of patients with hypertension will have sleep apnea. Several large studies have concluded that even those with an intractable hypertension that is difficult to treat may be due to sleep apnea.
(Questions and Answers - Sleep Apnea by Sudhansu Chokroverty, MD, FRCP, FACP)
Epworth Sleepiness Scale
In todays
lifestyle how likely are you to doze off
or
fall
asleep in the below situations.
Imagine what
you would do in the situation if
you have not
encountered it
recently in your
day t o day life
Use the scale below to score:
0 = Would never doze
1 = Slight chance of dozing
2 = Moderate chance of dozing
3 = High chance of dozing
Situation
| Sitting and reading Watching TV Sitting, inactive in a public place (eg. theatre or meeting) As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit Sitting and talking to someone Sitting quietly after lunch without alcohol In a car, while stopping for a few minutes in traffic Total: |  |
The higher
the score,
the greater
the chances
of
a diagnosis
of
Sleep Apnea.
This
test
is
not
a substitute for
professional
medical
diagnos is
and treatment
management
if you have any concerns
regarding your
health,
do seek professional
medical advice.
(Dr. Muray John, Melbourne Australia)