- Sleep Apnea
- SA Questionnaire
- Videos
Sleep apnea is when you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. These pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. This can be very disruptive to a person’s sleep. In fact, sleep apnea is one of the leading causes of daytime sleepiness.
Most people who have sleep apnea do not know that they have it. This condition cannot be easily diagnosed at a routine doctor’s visit. It only occurs when a person is sleeping. Consequently, most people don’t find out that they have sleep apnea until someone hears them snore!
The most common type of sleep apnea is OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea). This is usually caused from the airway being collapsed or blocked during sleep. OSA is relatively common in people who are overweight, however it can affect anyone. CSA (Central Sleep Apnea) is less common and happens when part of your brain that controls your breathing does not send the correct signals to your breathing muscles. This condition can also occur in anyone. It is more common in people who use certain medications or have certain medical conditions. Central Sleep Apnea often occurs with OSA. Snoring doesn’t usually occur with central sleep apnea.
A CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine is the most common therapy for sleep apnea. A CPAP works by pushing air through the airway passage at a pressure high enough to prevent apneas. A flexible tube connects the CPAP machine to a mask or other interface device that is worn over the nose and/or mouth. You must have a physician’s prescription in order to obtain a CPAP machine.
Untreated sleep apnea can:
- Increase the risk of high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, and obesity.
- Increase the risk of, or worsen, heart failure.
- Make arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats, more likely
- Increase the chance of having a driving or work-related accident.
This is a very common screening tool that is used to determine levels of daytime sleepiness and sleep deprivation. The questionnaire may be completed be either the patient and/or partner and is designed to give an indication whether further investigations are necessary (i.e. referral to a Sleep Specialist).
You can view your score without submitting the form. However, you will be contacted by a specially trained Respiratory Specialist if you include your name and phone number and you choose to submit the form.. He/she will make some very important recommendations based on your answers.
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What is OSA - Obstructive Sleep Apnea? | Bringing Healthcare Home: Complex Sleep Apnea | |
Inside Obstructive Sleep Apnea 1 | Inside Obstructive Sleep Apnea 2 | |
Inside Obstructive Sleep Apnea 3 | Inside Obstructive Sleep Apnea 4 | |
Fitting & Adjusting | Identifying and Adjusting Masks for Leaks | |
Removing Masks | Comfort Tips - Philips Respironics | |