CPAP
CPAP stands for continuous positive air pressure. There are many different types of machines and masks, and their job is to deliver continuous airflow into the lungs, keeping the airway open and dramatically reducing or stopping sleep apnoea. From nasal pillows which sit just inside the nose, to full-face masks, we’ll help you find a solution that suits your lifestyle.
Why Do I Need a CPAP Machine?
If you snore or stop breathing during sleep, you may find a CPAP machine will help you find the good night’s rest you’ve been searching for. You will use the machine to regulate your airways and breathing during the night, to allow your body to do what it needs to during rest – restore and rejuvenate.
How Does CPAP Work?
There are two primary parts to a CPAP Machine – the machine itself, and the mask you wear. This is in addition to the humidifier, and the hose that connects them together.
The machine works to pressurise the room’s air and pass it over a humidifier. This air then travels through the hose to the mask you wear. The pressurised air means:
- Your airways stay open
- Your breath stays regular
- Your body remains relaxed and sleeping deeply
CPAP Machine
There are two main types of CPAP machines – fixed pressure, and automatic pressure.
Fixed pressure – after you’ve undergone an initial test, you will be given a therapy pressure. This pressure is used as a fixed measure by your machine, throughout the night. These machines are cheaper, but you’ll need regular tests to ensure your therapy pressure is still accurate.
Automatic pressure – this type of machine monitors your breath and adjusts the pressure automatically during sleep. They cost more but may be worth the additional expense for the convenience and assurance your machine is adapting to your needs.
CPAP Mask
There are different types of masks available and the correct one for you will depend on your therapy needs and your lifestyle.
Nasal masks sit over your nose and are smaller, less intrusive than a full face, and are conducive to side- and back-sleepers.
Full face masks sit over your nose and mouth and are usually used by people who need to breathe through their mouth for a variety of reasons. These are best used if you sleep on your back.
Pillows are minimal masks that consist of prongs that sit just inside your nostrils and are suitable for side- and back-sleeping.
Pulmonary Lung Function Testing (PFT)
What is a Lung Function Test?
Lung function tests, which are also called pulmonary function tests (PFT), are tests that can be carried out to find out how well your lungs and airways are working. Lung function tests can assist in the diagnosis of respiratory (breathing) conditions. They can also work out how severe a condition is and help monitor the response to treatments.
They are a simple, non-invasive way to investigate your lung function and performance under specific conditions.
Why are Lung Function Tests Performed?
Lung function tests are often used to help diagnose or assess asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They are also used to assess other conditions that affect breathing, including lung scarring and illnesses that affect the chest or breathing muscles.
What Happens During a Lung Function Test?
The testing involves a series of breathing exercises, which provide a more detailed assessment of lung physiology. You will perform these breathing exercises into a mouthpiece, in different patterns.
Lung function tests usually take between 45 minutes and one hour, though this can vary based on the individual.
How to Prepare for a Lung Function Test
Here are a few pointers to help you prepare, as a general rule. You will receive specific instructions based on the type of test you’re undertaking:
- Wear comfortable clothing that doesn’t restrict your breathing
- Bring any inhalers you use, if relevant
- Refrain from the following:
- Drinking caffeine or alcohol (4 hours prior)
- Eating a significant amount (2 hours prior)
- Exercising (1 hour prior)
- Smoking (1 hour prior)
Heart Holter Tests
A heart holter test involves a small monitor, called a “holter”, to measure various things about your heart.
What is a Heart Holter Test?
A heart monitor test involves a small battery-powered medical device that measures your heart rate and rhythm. Electrodes are attached to your chest for 12-24 hours, and these feed the monitor which sits on your waistband.
Why are Heart Holter Tests Performed?
If you have any concerns about your heart rate or rhythm, a heart holter test is a great way to keep an eye on your heart over the course of a day. It can pick up chest pains, irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias.
If you have symptoms like dizziness, fatigue or chest pain (among others) a heart monitor test can help get to the cause of the problem.
How to Prepare for a Heart Holter Test
There are a few minor considerations ahead of your test. Primarily, shower prior to your appointment as you won’t be able to get it wet whilst attached.
The hair on your chest may need to be shaved prior to attaching, to help the electrodes stick.
What Happens During a Heart Holter Test?
The test assesses and monitors heart rate, to provide relevant information for the doctor at the conclusion of the 24 hours. During the time of the test, you will simply wear the electrodes and the monitor, and go about your daily activities.
You will not remove the monitor or electrodes until the conclusion of the test.
You will probably also be required to keep a time-record about your activities, and any symptoms you experience.
You will also wear the monitor during sleep.
What Happens After a Heart Holter Test?
After the test you’ll return to our practice, where we’ll remove the electrodes and monitor.
We will review the results along with your diary, and make recommendations for next steps and treatment if required.
Diagnostic Services
After you’ve undergone a sleep study, it may be assessed that a CPAP trial will be beneficial for you. The trial runs for 2 weeks and costs $200. If you decide to go ahead with a purchase at the end of the 2-week trial then this $200 will be deducted from the price of a machine.
On arrival, we will together review your sleep study results and why a CPAP trial is recommended. We will then do a nasal restriction test, which involves nasal breathing into a tube to assess if you need a full-face or a nasal mask. If there is restriction through the nose then a full-face mask will be more comfortable and beneficial for you.
We will then fit you with the mask, and show you how to use the machine.
Another appointment will be made for you within the two weeks to check-in and review your experience with the machine, the results you are getting and whether you need to change masks (for example due to leaks, discomfort etc).
We are available to call or answer questions at any point.
After the two weeks, we will hold another appointment and if you are happy and want to purchase the machine, we will proceed. We will talk through all of your options and discuss the best option/s for you moving forward. Payment plans are also available.
Alternative Treatments
The main treatment for breathing issues during sleep is CPAP machines and therapy. If for some reason, this is not a suitable option for you there are alternatives available.
For Mouth-Breathers
If you breathe through your mouth and a CPAP machine isn’t for you (even with a humidifier to moisten the air) you might consider these alternatives.
- clear up nasal congestion before you go to bed, with an antihistamine, nasal decongestant, or saline wash
- raise your head by using a higher pillow
- consider surgery – speak with your doctor if this is relevant
Oral Appliances
These fixtures sit inside your mouth and their job is to prevent your tongue and upper mouth tissues from blocking your airways. They hold your jaw and tongue in place and tend to be less cumbersome than CPAP masks. They are custom-designed to fit your face and a dentist will usually be involved.
Lifestyle Changes
Sometimes sleep apnoea is caused by lifestyle characteristics. If you’re a smoker or could lose some weight, consider addressing these things to see whether you might be able to organically make improvements to your sleep quality.
You could also consider:
- Exercising more
- Lowering your alcohol intake
- Sleeping on your side
Surgery
There are many possible reasons your anatomy could be affecting your airways and therefore your breathing, and your sleep quality.
Depending on your specific situation, surgery may be an option to help alleviate your sleep challenges.
Home Sleep Studies
We are dedicated to helping diagnose your sleep problem, helping you attain the quality of sleep you deserve for your overall health and wellbeing. If you’ve received a referral from your GP, you can undergo a sleep study through Medisleep.
What is a Home Sleep Study?
Sleep studies can be performed in our laboratory or in your home. A home-based sleep study is very similar to a laboratory sleep study, with the key difference being that your sleep in your home. Both involve electrodes and sleep analysis.
Sleep studies are used to measure things like your breathing, heart rate, leg movements, snoring and eye-movements while you sleep. Sleep studies also look at how many times you awaken during sleep.
A home sleep study is essentially the same as a laboratory sleep study, without the presence of a sleep specialist. You still wear electrodes and monitors.
Why are Home Sleep Studies Performed?
Sleep studies can tell us a lot of things about why you might be having trouble sleeping, or getting the best rest you can. We use them to determine whether you might have a sleep disorder, and inform next steps to get you the best possible night’s rest.
Home sleep studies replace laboratory sleep studies usually where a laboratory is not available, if it’s difficult for the patient to get to the laboratory, or if there’s a clear reason why a laboratory study is not desirable.
Depending on your eligibility, you may be able to claim your sleep study through Medicare, and be bulk billed.
How to Prepare for a Sleep Study
We like to analyse your sleep as closely to your normal state as possible, so it’s best not to do anything out of the ordinary the day before (like running a marathon!)
Bring comfortable clothes for sleeping, and reading material, if that helps you get to sleep.
Above all, relax. There’s nothing to worry about with a laboratory sleep study.
What Happens During a Home Sleep Study?
In the process of making your appointment, we will explain what is involved in detail.
For a home sleep study, you will come to our practice to get set up. Once you arrive we will place some electrodes on certain points along your jaw and chest to monitor your breath and heart rate throughout the night. Then you will go home for sleep.
While you sleep, an EEG monitors your sleep stages and your cycles of REM and nonREM or NREM sleep during the night, to identify possible disruptions in the pattern of your sleep.
A sleep study will also oxygen levels in your blood (through a sensor—there are no needles involved), heart and breathing rates, snoring, and body movements.
When you get up in the morning you’ll come back to the practice so we can remove the electrodes and talk about your night.
What Happens After a Home Sleep Study?
After the sleep study, we work with our Sleep Specialists to analyse and compile the results. Once these have been completed we will contact you with the report and recommend your next steps to a better night’s sleep!
Laboratory Sleep Studies
We are dedicated to helping diagnose your sleep problem, helping you attain the quality of sleep you deserve for your overall health and wellbeing. If you’ve received a referral from your GP, you can undergo a sleep study through Medisleep.
What is a Laboratory Sleep Study?
Sleep studies can be performed in our laboratory or in your home. They are used to measure things like your breathing, heart rate, leg movements, snoring and eye-movements while you sleep. Sleep studies also look at how many times you awaken during sleep.
Laboratory Sleep Studies are carried out in the clinical environment. This allows a Sleep Specialist to monitor your sleep in real-time. However, it’s not the all-white, sterile “clinic” you might imagine. You’ll sleep in a comfortable bed, in a bedroom.
We make it as comfortable as possible. We want you to relax enough for sleep, after all!
Why are Laboratory Sleep Studies Performed?
Sleep studies can tell us a lot of things about why you might be having trouble sleeping, or getting the best rest you can. We use them to determine whether you might have a sleep disorder, and inform next steps to get you the best possible night’s rest.
Depending on your eligibility, you may be able to claim your sleep study through Medicare, and be bulk billed.
How to Prepare for a Sleep Study
We like to analyse your sleep as closely to your normal state as possible, so it’s best not to do anything out of the ordinary the day before (like running a marathon!)
Bring comfortable clothes for sleeping, and reading material, if that helps you get to sleep.
Above all, relax. There’s nothing to worry about with a laboratory sleep study.
What Happens During a Laboratory Sleep Study?
In the process of making your appointment, we will explain what is involved in detail.
Once you arrive we will place some electrodes on certain points along your jaw and chest to monitor your breath and heart rate throughout the night.
While you sleep, an EEG monitors your sleep stages and your cycles of REM and nonREM or NREM sleep during the night, to identify possible disruptions in the pattern of your sleep.
A sleep study will also oxygen levels in your blood (through a sensor—there are no needles involved), heart and breathing rates, snoring, and body movements.
What Happens After a Laboratory Sleep Study?
After the sleep study, we work with our Sleep Specialists to analyse and compile the results. Once these have been completed we will contact you with the report and recommend your next steps to a better night’s sleep!