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Diagnosis

If you suspect you or a loved one has sleep apnoea it is important to speak to your doctor about a sleep study referral. Click Here to download a referral form.

At Gold Coast Sleep Apnoea our sleep studies are performed in the comfort and security of your own home. The benefits of performing a home sleep study versus a laboratory study are paramount, as a home environment will provide a more accurate representation of your usual sleep behaviour. Plus, your normal routine will not be disrupted by having to stay overnight in a laboratory or hospital.

Gold Coast Sleep Apnoea will provide detailed instructions, as well as a take home guide, to set up your sleep study device. We will support you and ensure you feel confident and comfortable with the equipment before leaving our clinic. We use the latest ambulatory sleep monitoring equipment, offering more detailed data than most portable home sleep study devices . Your sleep study device will be worn overnight and records data including; electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalogram (EEG), electrooculography (EOG), electomyography (EMG), respiratory effort, airflow, leg movements, blood oxygen saturation, pulse and body positioning.

Your sleep study data will then be sent to Dr John Feenstra from Wesley Pulmonary & Sleep Services, located at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane. Dr Feenstra will assess your study and provide the results to us and your referring doctor. We will contact you when we receive your results (approximately 10 days), to set up an appointment to review them with you. Our trained sleep consultants will go through your results with you in detail, ensuring you have the knowledge to take care of your health. If treatment is required, we will work with you to find the most appropriate and effective treatment tailored to you and your health objectives.

This study is a Medicare Level II accredited diagnostic device and is fully bulk-billed.*

* Medicare eligibility criteria apply

DOWNLOAD YOUR REFERRAL HERE

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COMPLETE YOUR ONLINE REFERRAL HERE

What to Bring:

– Your signed and dated referral from your doctor

– Medicare card

– Drivers Licence or credit card (to be held overnight as a deposit)

– Commitment to improving your health

Home Sleep Studies, compared to a sleep laboratory tests for complex sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy, or parasomnias, may not be recommended, and we would then arrange a lab study on your behalf.

Results usually take approx. 14 working days to be returned, and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible to discuss your results. We will also notify your referring GP of your results, and liaise with them to make the appropriate decisions regarding your diagnosis and sleep therapy.

NB: it may be recommended for pensioners to see a sleep lab for their sleep study as having a portable sleep study may affect your eligibility for the QLD Sleep Disorder Program. Talk to us today about this program or click here for more information on this QLD health initiative.

What Is A Sleep Apnoea?

Most of us have experienced trouble sleeping at one time or another. This is normal and usually temporary due to stress or other outside factors. However, if sleep problems become regular and interfere with your daily life, you may be suffering from sleep apnoea.

Sleep apnoea occurs when there is an interruption to breathing when we are asleep, and the brain is required to “wake” the body up so you can resume normal breathing. There are three forms of sleep apnoea: obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), Central Sleep Apnea and complex or mixed sleep apnea (i.e, a combination of central and obstructive) Apnoea’s can occur hundreds of time each night with serious consequences to your body.

Symptoms of sleep apnoea include:

  • Snoring
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Slow reflexes
  • Memory problems
  • Poor concentration
  • Depression / moodiness
  • Irritability
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Sore throat / dry mouth
  • Morning headaches
  • Frequent Urination throughout the night
  • Loss of libido/ Impotence
  • Gastric reflux
  • Depression
  • Feeling unrefreshed in the morning
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Falling asleep in inappropriate places – Nodding off

Sleep apnoea can also lead to serious health problems over time including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and weight gain. But with treatment you can control the symptoms, get your sleep back on track, and start enjoy being refreshed and alert every day. So if you’re experiencing sleeping problems, it is important to have the cause of your sleeping problems diagnosed.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea ( OSA ) is the most common condition that causes the upper airway to collapse during sleep resulting in temporary blockages in breathing. There are 2 types of obstructions in the airway for sufferers of OSA:

 

OBSTRUCTIVE APNOEA (OA)= cessation of airflow for 10 seconds or greater.
HYPOPNEA (H) =>50% decrease in airflow for 10 seconds or greater with a decrease in oxygen saturation of >3%
Both events mostly occur in REM sleep, but have also been recorded in slow wave sleep, which are less common.

As we relax into sleep, our muscles relax too. For OSA sufferers, the upper airway relaxes to the point of blocking the airway causing an interruption to breathing ( an obstruction ).

When you have an obstruction of any type, the oxygen levels in your blood stream decrease. When your brain realises that it isn’t getting enough oxygen, it sends a message to your body to wake you up. This is often associated with a loud snort or gasp for breath. Your heart rate is increased as you wake up, sometimes to double that of its resting rate as the airway opens to let in oxygen.

These breathing pauses typically last between 10 to 20 seconds ( however some can last over 60 seconds!) and can occur up to hundreds of times every night jolting you out of your natural sleep rhythm. As a consequence, you spend more time in light sleep and less time in the deep, restorative sleep you need to be energetic, mentally sharp, and productive the next day.

While most people with sleep apnoea don’t remember these awakenings, they might feel exhausted during the day, irritable and depressed, or see a decrease in productivity.

Sleep apnoea is a serious, and potentially life-threatening sleep disorder. If you suspect that you or a loved one may have sleep apnoea, call us today to arrange a sleep study.

Symptoms of sleep apnoea include:

  • Loud, chronic snoring
  • Frequent pauses in breathing during sleep
  • Gasping, snorting, or choking during sleep
  • Feeling exhausted after waking
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Morning headaches
  • Waking up with shortness of breath, chest pains, nasal congestion, or a dry throat
  • Moodiness
  • Impotence

Central Sleep Apnoea (CSA)

Central Sleep Apnoea (CSA) is the least common condition where breathing is disrupted regularly during sleep, because of the way the brain functions. It is not that you cannot breathe (which is true in obstructive sleep apnoea); rather, you do not try to breathe at all. The brain does not tell your muscles to breathe.

 

Central sleep apnoea is often associated with other conditions. One form of central sleep apnoea however, has no known cause, and is not associated with any other disease. In addition, central sleep apnoea can occur with obstructive sleep apnoea, or it can occur alone.

Conditions that may be associated with central sleep apnoea include the following:

  • Congestive heart failure
  • Hypothyroid Disease
  • Kidney failure
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
  • Damage to the brainstem caused by encephalitis, stroke, injury, or other factors

Sleep apnoea is a serious, and potentially life-threatening,

Complex or Mixed Sleep Apnoea

Complex or mixed sleep apnoea – is a combination of the two types of sleep apnoeas. See Obstructive sleep Apnoea or Central Sleep Apnoea

Central Sleep Apnoea (CSA)

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)

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