Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and Treatment - Healthpoint

Obstructive
Sleep

Apnoea and Treatment

Name: _________________________________

CPAP Pressure: _________________________________

Your doctor has diagnosed you as having sleep apnoea. The
reason that you have this problem is that you stop breathing
while you sleep. You will be given a CPAP machine.

The booklet will give you some information about how you
breathe normally when you sleep and what happens in sleep
apnoea.

There is also an explanation about how the CPAP machine
works.

This is the best position for sleeping, tubing and CPAP November 2008
machine placement.

Sleep, Breathing and Other Issues Appointments
Sleep accounts for approximately one third of our lives.
Sleep-related illnesses can contribute to high blood pressure, stroke, heart Your appointment may be at the Manukau SuperClinic or with your GP.
failure, depression and an overall decreased quality of life. You will be advised by letter where and when to attend.
Snoring and problems with breathing while sleeping are quite common. If
breathing is interrupted frequently, sleep quality can be poor. 1. During hot weather, if you use an electric fan, direct the flow
of air away from you, preferable towards a wall, which will
The upper airway (throat) during normal sleep cool the room. Direct air onto the tubing will cause increased
When a person goes to sleep, most of the muscles in the body become soft condensation as the tubing will heat more to try to warm the
and relaxed. This helps the person have a comfortable relaxed sleep. The air delivered to your airways.
muscles around the soft palate (roof of the mouth) and tongue remain firm
to allow a clear passage of air through the throat and in and out of the 2. COSTS: CPAP manufacturers have informed us that the
lungs. In this situation the person is able to get quality sleep without any CPAPS, run at the highest pressure and with the humidifier,
breathing problems, and wakes feeling refreshed and able to perform well cost the same as running a 100 watt light bulb. At a lower
during the daytime pressure – up to 9cm – and with NO humidifier the cost is the
same as running a 40 watt light bulb.
Healthy upper airway
3. Each person starting CPAP treatment will be issued with a
Picture reprinted with permission from ResMed NZ Ltd. mask, head straps & tubing. The silicone cushion will be
replaced, only if required, once a year. You will now be
required to pay for any extra replacements yourself.

Contact:
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, 15 Maurice Paykel Place, East Tamaki,

Freephone: 0800 503 553 OR
Resmed: Auckland physiology lab, phone 638 5255.

THERE IS NO SERVICE OUT OF NORMAL WORKING HOURS.

Should the CPAP machine break down or there be a power failure, you
will be able to manage without CPAP treatment over a weekend. During
working hours contact the numbers below.

During working hours contact the Respiratory Department,
Ph: 276 0044 ext 2059 or 2139. and leave a clear message.

Care of CPAP Machine & Mask What is Snoring?
Snoring is a noise made while breathing during sleep.
Daily: The noise is caused by movement of the muscles and other soft tissue at
NB: If the mask has a grey inner foam cushion – DO NOT PUT IN the back of the throat.
WATER. Wipe with a damp cloth and dry. The muscles relax too much and narrow the airway to the lungs. Snoring
¾ Wash mask cushion in luke warm soapy water. (NOT HOT) can disturb sleep quality and is now recognised as contributing to health
¾ Rinse well. problems such as stroke. When snoring happens sleep can be disturbed.
¾ Pat dry. You may not feel refreshed when you wake.
¾ Hang tubing to dry. ¾ Sometimes the noise of snoring comes from a partly blocked nose. This
Weekly:
¾ Wash mask frame, head strap and tube in warm soapy water. may occur if the nose has been damaged by injury or infection.
¾ Rinse well. Partly blocked airway
¾ Hang tube to drain.
¾ Unplug machine and wipe with a damp cloth. Picture reprinted with permission from ResMed NZ Ltd.
Change filter 6 monthly.
Annually:
Your CPAP machine needs to be serviced annually. You will be contacted
when the annual service is due.
Note: Do not place mask, mask frame or tubing in direct

sunlight. The plastic will become brittle and break easily.

Care of Humidifier

Daily:
¾ Unplug CPAP machine and humidifier.
¾ Remove water chamber from heater unit.
¾ Empty out remaining water as much as possible.
¾ Wash chamber in warm soapy water.
¾ Rinse well.
¾ Turn upside down to allow water to drain.

Weekly:
¾ Unplug humidifier and wipe with a damp cloth.
¾ Wash tube in warm soapy water.
¾ Rinse well.
¾ Position tube to allow water to drain out.
¾ Add mixture of 2/3 warm water and ½ white vinegar to water

chamber. Leave for 15 minutes, empty and rinse well.

What is OSA? ¾ A CPAP machine is a pump which delivers air to the lungs.
¾ The air travels from the machine through a tube to a mask on the nose
If the muscles at the back of the throat relax too much the airway
becomes completely blocked and breathing stops. This is called an and/or mouth providing pressure which supports the muscles at the
“apnoea” which means “no air flow to the lungs”. Each time your airway back of your throat to keep them open during sleep.
blocks off your body may not get enough oxygen. ¾ The CPAP machine is always used during sleep to stop you snoring and
The apnoea (no air flow to the lungs) can last 10 seconds or more and having apnoeas and to improve your sleep quality.
can happen hundreds of times a night. During the apnoea, the brain soon ¾ Daytime sleepiness should disappear.
recognises there is a problem and wakes the person up a little. The ¾ It needs to be used for a minimum of 5 hours (preferably
muscles then firm up which means the airway opens and breathing begins uninterrupted) per day to be of any benefit to your body. For best
again. benefit to your body, you would use the CPAP for 7 hours per day.
¾ But if you sleep at any time without using the CPAP you start to
As the person relaxes and becomes deeply asleep, further apnoeas will damage your body again.
happen. This can significantly affect sleep quality. ¾ There is no benefit in using your CPAP while you are up and awake.

Blocked airway Note
¾ CPAP is a treatment only.
Picture reprinted with permission from ResMed NZ Ltd. ¾ There is no cure for OSA but it can be helped by losing weight if you

Who gets OSA? are overweight.
¾ To be effective, CPAP must be used each time you sleep, day or night.
ƒ Anyone.
ƒ More males than females. Always take it with you when you travel or go into hospital. Take it as
ƒ Those who have nose or throat problems, i.e nasal polyps, large hand luggage on the plane.

tonsils. Problems / Solutions
ƒ Those with a small throat.
ƒ Being overweight does not cause OSA, but will make the problem Pain or discomfort on face or nose: Top headstrap too tight – loosen this.
Control all leaks by gradually & evenly tightening the Bottom strap.
worse. Sneezing or runny nose during the day: Contact the sleep department for
advice.
What is the treatment for OSA? If you have any other problems please ring to make an appointment. We
are usually available during morning hours 8.30am till 1pm. If you come to
¾ Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine is the gold clinic without an appointment we may be unable to see you.
standard treatment for OSA.
During working hours contact the Respiratory Department,
Ph: 276 0044 ext 2059 or 2139.

Pamphlet Name: OSA Patient Booklet Last Updated: November 2008 Department: Respiratory

Counties Manukau District Health Board