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driver fatigue

DRIVER FATIGUE & SLEEP APNEA: WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

Posted on | by ApneaSeal
Driver fatigue is one of the main causes of accidents in Australia. Sleep apnea is one of the most insidious sleep disorders, where the throat closes partially or fully during sleep and often triggers people to wake many times over a night. People often don’t realise that they have sleep apnea initially, but simply feel tired and experience some of the symptoms of the disorder including afternoon tiredness and lack of focus.

DRIVER FATIGUE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS

Some of the risks of sleep apnea include driver fatigue. In fact, drivers that suffer from sleep apnea have a range of risks when driving including a risk of falling asleep at the wheel and reduced reaction times when they face unexpected issues. This can make them more likely to crash into other vehicles or to have single car incidents.

WHEN IS IT MORE LIKELY?

Sleep apnea can occur at any time but most sufferers have a natural dip in energy in the middle of the afternoon as the body’s circadian rhythms attempt to send the person to sleep to catch up on the missed rest. Additionally, in the middle and late afternoon, the sun is often low in the sky and this can affect overall visibility on the road, further increasing the risk of a crash.

HOW CAN I TELL IF I AM, OR SOMEONE I KNOW, IS AT RISK?

While the only way you can definitely tell if you have sleep apnea is by having a sleep study with a doctor, there are some signs that can be observed at home including chronic and loud snoring, as well as waking up tired even when you allow yourself to sleep until you naturally wake up (such as on the weekend). Luckily, there are some easy ways to treat sleep apnea, including using a CPAP machine (with CPAP mask) or a BPAP machine as you sleep, which gently pushes air into the mouth and nose helping people with sleep apnea to stay asleep and get better quality sleep throughout the night. If you are worried that you, or a loved one, may have sleep apnea you should make an appointment to see your doctor and get a referral for a sleep study. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea there are some easy and effective treatments to help relieve your fatigue and allow you to perform at your best.
mental health

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES CAUSED BY SLEEP APNEA

Posted on | by ApneaSeal

SLEEP APNEA BEGINNING TO BE RECOGNISED AS A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is characterised by repeated episodes of throat obstruction during the sleep cycle, can be very difficult to live with on a physical level, particularly if treatment is not sought. However, if that wasn’t difficult enough, sleep apnea can also be the cause of a number of mental health issues, which are only just starting to be scrutinised within the medical community. In fact, many patients may notice these symptoms before the sleep apnea itself is diagnosed. In this way, it is important to look out for the following symptoms in yourself or a loved one:

DREAM DISTURBANCES

While dreaming is often thought of as an elusive and otherworldly phenomenon, tracking dream patterns can actually provide clues to overall health. OSA sufferers, for example, often find it difficult to enter the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep that facilitates dreaming. As dreaming is a great tool for testing out anxiety-inducing situations and future goals, being unable to do so can heighten anxiety and memory retention in the waking world. Indeed, this can cause significant mental health problems for sleep apnea patients, and diagnosis and treatment should be sought.

RELATIONSHIP BREAKDOWNS

While many of us like to think we are patient with our partners, sleeping next to someone with sleep apnea can significantly affect a person’s sleep quality due to the associated snoring. This can naturally lead to relationship issues. If you or a partner have sleep apnea symptoms, it’s a good idea to get things checked out and nip it in the bud before things escalate too far.

GENERALISED COGNITIVE DIFFICULTIES

As sleep apnea prevents dreaming and REM sleep, it can leave sufferers feeling tired and spaced out during the day. Indeed, this can lead to significant cognitive difficulties including an inability to concentrate, memory problems, and low or irritable mood. To make things worse, worrying about these issues can make the sleep apnea worse at night, creating a vicious cycle. In this way, as with the myriad mental health issues that sleep apnea can cause, it is important to consult your doctor on these issues.
OSA

ABOUT OSA (OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA)

Posted on | by ApneaSeal
Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA is a fairly common condition and is caused by the walls of the throat relaxing and contracting during sleep, which results in interruptions to normal breathing. This can lead to disturbed sleep patterns, a negative impact on quality of life due to regular sleep interruptions. OSA may also cause the development of other conditions.

SYMPTOMS OF OSA

If you develop OSA it’s likely that people around you will notice you snore fairly loudly and struggle to breathe. It may also be quite noticeable that you stop breathing for a short space of time during the night. You may wake up quite often throughout the night and could find yourself struggling to breathe – or even choking. The shortage of oxygen during episodes triggers your brain to pull you into a lighter sleep or to wake up. These continued sleep interruptions are likely to make you feel extremely tired during the day. Many patients are unaware that they suffer from OSA. Characteristic breathing interruptions caused by the condition include:
  • Apnea – which is where the muscles and tissues in the throat relax enough to cause a total blockage of the air passage for at least 10 seconds.
  • Hypoapnea – this is a partial blockage of the air passage resulting in airflow reductions of more than 50% for at least 10 seconds.

CAUSES OF OSA

It’s quite normal for the throat to collapse to a small degree when you sleep, as the soft tissues and muscles will always relax at this time. However, this does not cause breathing problems for most people.
  • OSA can be caused by a variety of reasons, including:
  • Age – people over the age of 40 are more likely to develop the condition
  • Sex – men develop OSA more often than women
  • Weight – people who are overweight have excess body fat which increases the amount of soft tissue in the neck, placing more stress on neck muscles
  • Sedatives – regularly taking sedatives such as sleeping tablets or tranquilisers can increase risks of developing the condition
  • Alcohol – regular alcohol consumption, particularly just before bedtime, can worsen the condition
  • Smoking – people who smoke are more likely to develop the condition.
In the main, treatment options such as lifestyle changes can reduce symptoms, however, there are treatments for OSA. These include the use of a continuous positive airways pressure device (CPAP) and oral appliances, known as mandibular advancement devices. https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/fact-sheets-a-z/191-obstructive-sleep-aponea.html https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obstructive-sleep-apnoea/

IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE OSA

Many sufferers of OSA are not aware that they have it. There are a number of tell-tale signs that can give you an idea.
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness – Because the sufferer awakens repeatedly with OSA, normal, restorative sleep is not possible. This can often lead to severe daytime drowsiness, as well as fatigue and irritability.
  • Loud snoring – Snoring is not commonly thought of as a sign of something potentially serious. Your partner may be woken up and will listen in frustration. They should be looking out for long pauses in breathing (lasting many seconds). It should be stressed that not everyone who snores has OSA.
  • Abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking – Because an Apnea means you have stopped breathing for a short while, your body naturally struggles. This can lead to you wakening with a shortness of breath that corrects itself reasonably quickly. Most of the time, you are still “asleep” but may make a snorting, choking or gasping sound.
  • Difficulty concentrating during the day –  When sleep deprived, sufferers may have difficulty concentrating. They find themselves falling asleep when the body is at rest, such as at the desk, watching TV. OSA is becoming recognised as a risk factor when when driving. Many jurisdictions require proof of therapy when renewing licences. Children and young people with OSA may not do well at school. OSA  has been associated with attention or behavior problems.
If you are experiencing any or all of these symptoms, talk to your GP and ask for a referral to a Sleep Specialist. They may suggest that you undergo a sleep study where your sleeping habits can be reviewed.
sleep apnoea sleep apnea

SLEEP APNOEA – OR IS IT SLEEP APNEA?

Posted on | by ApneaSeal
Partial or obstructive sleep apnoea/sleep apnea is a treatable condition that is caused by a folding or collapse of the airways during sleep. It can cause the sufferer to snore and stop breathing for a short period of time, which may also disrupt the sufferer’s partner, or even members of the household in other bedrooms. On top of this, the sufferer may also suffer from drowsiness or grumpiness due to poor quality of sleep. Needless to say, this can severely impact on the sufferer’s quality of life, as well as their safety when driving or operating machinery.

SLEEP APNEA OR SLEEP APNOEA?

The short answer is that both mean the same thing. The two aren’t different conditions, as some people believe; sleep apnoea is the spelling most commonly used in the UK and Europe, while the US often omits the ‘O’. In Australia, both terms are equally acceptable, with various organisations using both spellings interchangeably. It can cause some confusion when it comes to searching the internet for information or advice, but just keep it in mind and it won’t be an issue. Use whichever term you feel comfortable with (or can remember to spell!).

WHAT’S THE TREATMENT FOR SLEEP APNOEA?

The treatment for sleep apnoea/sleep apnea depends on the severity. More mild symptoms may be relieved through weight loss, changes in sleeping positions, and the use of oral devices designed to maintain the airways in an open position. For those with more severe symptoms, devices such as a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP. CPAP machines help those with sleep apnoea by gently forcing air into the person’s airways, helping to keep them open. Many companies can manufacture custom-fitted masks to ensure that sleep apnoea sufferers can sleep as comfortably as possible.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAVE SLEEP APNEA SYMPTOMS?

If you think you might have sleep apnoea, the first step is to talk to your doctor. You and your GP will be able to discuss your symptoms, your lifestyle and which treatment options are right for you. In some cases, losing weight and avoiding substances such as alcohol or sleeping pills may be enough to end your sleep apnoea for good. If your doctor believes that there may be a problem, they will refer you for a sleep study – where your sleep will be measured and recommendations made. For more information about OSA, or details on how to get your own custom-fit CPAP mask, visit ApneaSeal.

ApneaSeal and Air Liquide Healthcare at Sleep DownUnder Auckland Oct 2017

Posted on | by ApneaSeal
Air Liquide Healthcare invited ApneaSeal to share their booth and strengthen our partnership at the Sleep DownUnder 2017 conference in Auckland New Zealand (26-28 October 2017). Air Liquide Healthcare is a leading sleep, respiratory care, and medical gas provider with a focus to provide innovative solutions to the market. And with the help of ApneaSeal and their point of sale Nose Studio(TM), a fast facial scanner, and ApneaSeal’s intelligent conversion of 20,000 facial data points, can design an innovative mask that has no sizes, recognising every individual shouldn’t be a compromise. ApneaSeal is manufactured with the latest 3D printing technology, providing consistent and accurate mask interfaces that are specifically “made for you”.

ApneaSeal Launches two new Nose Studios in Melbourne VIC- Sep 2017

Posted on | by ApneaSeal
ApneaSeal’s latest Nose Studios were launched in Melbourne in September 2017. We are pleased to announce a new Nose Studio at Air Liquide Healthcare’s Richmond office, where sleep professionals Mary and Beverley are pictured; And a second Nose Studio in Melbourne located with Madan and Manik at the Essendon Air Liquide Healthcare/Healthy Sleep Solutions office (pictured below). That brings ApneaSeal’s total national reach to 11 sites across most major Australian capital cities. For more information, click on the “Contact Us” link at the bottom of this page. ApneaSeal – Made for You.   Enquiries can be made at www.apneaseal.com.au

ApneaSeal launches with Healthy Sleep Solutions & Air Liquide Healthcare in QLD- Aug/Sept 2017

Posted on | by ApneaSeal
Healthy Sleep Solutions Sunshine Coast (a division of Air Liquide Healthcare) and  Air Liquide Healthcare sites in both Brisbane and Gold Coast opened their doors in the last month to station new Nose Studio’s bringing ApneaSeal’s customised CPAP mask technology to the Queensland market. “We are delighted by the ability to bring our own technology through such experienced partners in the CPAP sleep services industry”, Sales & Marketing Director, Gerry Mahony stated.   For more information visit www.apneaseal.com.au  

ApneaSeal launches pilot with Healthy Sleep Solutions (Air Liquide Healthcare) in Western Australia – Perth Jul 2017

Posted on | by ApneaSeal
Healthy Sleep Solutions (a division of Air Liquide Healthcare) Perth were welcomed by Bespoke Medical Innovations CEO Darren Churchill to ‘handover’ and commission a brand-new Nose Studio®, part of a new and innovative customised CPAP therapy mask called ApneaSeal. Jeff Vaughan (Regional Business Manager – Vic, Tas, SA, WA and NT) stated “… we are thrilled to have available to us a new and unique product aimed at improving CPAP compliance”.  ApneaSeal is individually designed and manufactured based on a series of images taken of the patient’s nose and surrounding areas that captures over 20,000 data points. This unique and patent-pending face mapping technology allows the scientists at ApneaSeal to create a fully customised solution for each individual.