You might be thinking, don't dry out the Cake? What does this have to do with my Sleep Apnoea? The answer is humidification. The reason that cakes are moist is the same reason that you don't get a dry mouth in the morning. When baking a cake, it produces humidification in the air that keeps the cake moist. If you open the oven and let the air escape, so does the humidification.
So if we now apply this principle to CPAP, when you have a large leak or if your humidification settings are not quite right, you won't dry out a cake, but you will dry out your mouth.
It is important if you are suffering from a dry mouth that you try to adjust the humidification or check for a leak in the system. Remember, the settings of humidification are for your comfort and to help you comply with CPAP Therapy, so don't be afraid to adjust the dials until it is just right for you!
Any questions on humidification, please ring us at Sleep Centres of Australia on 9252 6144
While the media have made us all too aware of "microsleeps" while driving a car or a truck, stop for a moment to consider the story of a pilot who fell asleep whilst navigating a plane! A pilot of a small Cessna airplane fell asleep behind the controls after putting his plane into autopilot and listening to country music. The pilot failed to respond to calls from air traffic controllers in Brisbane and Sydney, and woke to find himself in Sydney airspace without being able to remember anything after receiving clearance to enter Williamtown airspace.
Although flights were diverted, and the air traffic controllers had concerns about the intentions of the pilot, it was lucky that nobody was injured.The pilot was instructed to undergo medical testing - particularly for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea - a condition that can cause daytime sleepiness.
Fatigue can affect all of us in a variety of situations. If you suffer from daytime sleepiness or fatigue and find yourself nodding off during work or other activities, then contact Sleep Centres of Australia on 9252 6144.
With the ever growing number of Australians wtih Hypertension, it is now clear there is a link between high blood pressure and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. One of the known causes of Hypertension has now been identified to be Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Multiple research studies have been conducted on the relationship between Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Hypertension and Cardiovascular conditions in patients. Often patients are put on anti-hypertensive medication without treating an underlying sleep condition. But it might not be necessary to be on anti-hypertensive medication if your sleep apnea is being treated appropriately.
It is definitely worth having a test to see if you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea - even if you don't snore!
Call us on 9252 6144 to find out more.
We all know what we love to do before going to bed; whether it is reading a book, surfing the net or chatting to our bed partner.There is always something that we must do to prepare our minds and bodies for sleep.Habits that help you have a good night's sleep are known as your sleep hygiene.CPAP not only allows you to get a better night's sleep, it also has the capability of improving your sleep hygiene, so it has 2 features for the price of one.Let me explain.Because you must wear CPAP every night, even when you want to NAP you should also wear your CPAP.Therefore, putting on the mask and machine every time you go to sleep and the associated pressure sensation, sends a signal to your body that it is time for slumber.However, this does take a while and some very important training with CPAP is required to get to this point. If you persevere, you will be able to put your CPAP mask on and off within a matter of seconds.The ease and efficiency will make this small routine seem more like brushing your teeth rather than a chore. If you require any advice for your CPAP machine and mask, then please call our Sleep Centre on 9252 6144 and make CPAP a part of your Sleep Routine.
What is misunderstood by patients is they think Sleep Apnea is just snoring; or the gasping for air is just gasping for air. In fact not many patients associate snoring or gasping for air as affecting the quality of their sleep. When you stop breathing at night, your body wakes you up, maybe ever so slightly in order to breathe again. You then continue to breathe until you go to sleep again. This cycle is then repeated through the night which is why you are tired during the day and have headaches in the morning.
On a Sleep Study, we consider this to be an "arousal", with the frequency in breath pauses over the span of one night's sleep as your AHI or Apnoea Hypopnoea Index. 0-5 is considered to be normal when speaking about Obstructive Sleep Apnea, anything higher is not normal. You are categorised into either Mild (5-15 pauses per hour), Moderate (15-30 pauses per hour) or Severe (anything greater than 30 pauses per hour). If you do snore and are tired during the day, this may be the reason why. Testing is now fast and efficient,and best of all you are able to be tested in your own home, so why not contact us to organise a Sleep Study today 9252 6144.
Fatigue is a Workplace Health and Safety risk, particularly if you drive heavy vehicles or operate machinery. Even if you make important business decisions, studies have shown that fatigue can impair your judgement as much as having a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 0.05! Sleepiness and fatigue are two different conditions. Sleepiness comes from having a poor night's sleep the night before; it is usally a symptom of fatigue. Fatigue usually relates to poor reaction time, small attention span and trouble in focusing. It is therefore more than just feeling sleepy. It is everyone's responsibility to ensure that fatigue stays out of the workplace. Many companies have policies in place to ensure employees are able to come to work without feeling fatigued.This includes roster design, ability to take a break when needed, and in some cases, enabling the employee's access to a "power nap".
If there is an underlying sleep disorder, such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea, employees will benefit from accurate diagnosis and effective therapy. Contact Sleep Centres on 9252 6144 to find out more.
It is not just your average Joe who can suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA). People from all walks of life are susceptible to this common disorder. Many famous people have become outspoken advocates for those who suffer and still remain untreated. People like Rosanne Barr - from the 90's TV show Rosanne or Rosie O'Donnell have both become advocates for the disorder and recommend getting checked out by experts.OSA doesn't just affect people who are over weight; athletes can also have this condition. Shaquille O'Neal a former NBA player in America also suffers from the disorder, despite being fit and well in all other aspects of his life! He maintains his health through the use of COntinuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP).Randy Jackson, an American Idol judge also suffers from Sleep Apnoea and has been a very big figure in reaising the profile of OSA.As you can see, you aren't alone.If you think you may have this condition, it is good to get tested and ensure that you are making the most of your night time sleep!
You may have heard about dental devices being used as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea. It is a service that we offer by an experienced Dentist, who is also qualified in the area of sleep medicine. Dental devices work by pushing the lower jaw forward to keep the airway open during sleep. What you may not know is that dental devices are known by other names such as Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD), Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS) and most recently Oral Appliance Therapy. So many names for such a wonderful appliance that can help to eliminate snoring as well as treat obstructive sleep apnoea!