Synergy Sleep can diagnose your sleep disorder in the comfort and security of your own home using the latest ambulatory sleep study equipment.
The benefits of at home sleep monitoring versus in lab monitoring are vast, with the integrity of the results reflecting more accurately your usual sleep behavior as you are in your own bed, environment, and your normal bed time routine is not disrupted by an overnight stay in a lab or hospital.
Your sleep study will then be assessed by Dr John Feenstra from Wesley Pulmonary & Sleep Services, located at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane.
Synergy Sleep will use the latest ambulatory sleep monitoring equipment, which offers more complex data than most portable home sleep study devices . The monitoring device then worn overnight and records ECG, EEG, EOG, EMG, respiratory effort, airflow, Leg movements, O2 and Pulse and body positioning.
You will be required to attend the clinic in the evening for your setup, and then you will remove the device carefully when you wake up the next morning and pop it all in a case provided for its return the following day.
This study is a Medicare Level 2 accredited diagnostic device and is fully bulk billed.
You will require a referral from you GP before we can do your sleep study and an evening appointment so we can “wire” you up.
On the night of your study you will need:
- Your signed referral from your GP or Click Here to download a referral form.
- To be clean and ready for bed – if you wear Pajamas, you will need to bring them to your appointment
- Underwear
- Drivers Licence or credit card ( to be held overnight as a deposit )
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. 10 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?
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 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 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, sleep disorder. If you suspect that you or a loved one may have sleep apnoea, see a doctor right away
Complex or Mixed Sleep Apnoea
Central Sleep Apnoea (CSA)
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)
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