The importance of a good night’s sleep – are you getting yours?

Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person’s breathing stops and starts multiple times during sleep – sometimes for more than a minute and as often as 60 times a night.

The result is that most people that suffer from sleep anpea also experience tiredness and often will feel totally exhausted. A good night’s sleep is essential and it plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, and other vital functions.

It is not uncommon for sleep apnea sufferers to go undiagnosed and to be unaware of how their sleep is being interrupted.

At the Clonmel Sleep Clinic our trusted team of respiratory consultants and nurses can diagnose sleep apnoea and a range of other sleep disorders, and tailor treatment options to fit your lifestyle.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is when gaps in breathing occur at night while you are asleep.

During apnoea episodes, the muscles supporting your airway relax, thus stopping air from getting into your lungs. Your airway will either totally collapse or partially collapse. This can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness often with irritability or restlessness.

What are the symptoms?

  • Feeling inclined to nod off during daytime hours
  • Trouble concentrating or memory loss
  • Morning headaches
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Nocturia i.e. a frequent need to use the loo at night
  • A general feeling of tiredness and poor energy levels despite having had a good night’s sleep

How do I know if I have Sleep Apnoea?

The only way to determine if you suffer from Sleep Apnoea is to undergo a sleep study which is a comprehensive test used to diagnose sleep disorders.

The sleep study, also known as Polysomnography, can be done In-Hospital or At Home depending on your consultant’s recommendation and the type of screening required.

Take our 2 minute sleep test

How likely are you to doze off or fall asleep in the following situations, in comparison to feeling just tired? This refers to your usual way of life in recent times. Even if you haven't done some of these things recently, try to work out how they would have affected you.

Question 1 of 8

Sitting and reading

Question 2 of 8

Watching TV

Question 3 of 8

Sitting still in a public place (e.g. a theatre, a cinema or a meeting)

Question 4 of 8

As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break

Question 5 of 8

Lying down to rest in the afternoon when the circumstances allow

Question 6 of 8

Sitting and talking to someone

Question 7 of 8

Sitting quietly after lunch without having drunk alcohol

Question 8 of 8

In a car or bus while stopped for a few minutes in traffic

 

Take the Next Step to Better Sleep

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Sleep Apnoea Treatment

Although there are a few ways to treat sleep apnoea such as making lifestyle changes (i.e. losing weight), Continuous Positive Airway Therapy (CPAP) is the gold standard treatment that delivers the best results. At the Clonmel Sleep Clinic, our tailored treatment programmes are designed to treat and manage your sleep apnoea.

CPAP therapy involves using a device at night which delivers a prescribed air pressure via a mask to your airways. The primary aim of CPAP therapy is to ensure your airway is kept open so that apnoea’s do not occur.

CPAP Therapy can dramatically improve the quality of your life!

CPAP therapy can change your life. It is no secret – CPAP machines work. By not experiencing sleep apnea during the night, you’ll achieve a full night’s sleep.

Continuous positive airway pressure generally leads to a great improvement in the amount of time spent in restorative deep sleep, which in turn leads to improvement alertness the next day.

Many notice the change after the first night, such is the impact of the CPAP therapy.

Studies have shown that men with sleep apnoea regulate their hormone levels in just eight weeks, and this can lead to weight loss.

Regular use of CPAP therapy has a significant impact on mood including:

  • 20% improvement in severe depression
  • 66% reduction in severe sleepiness
  • 20% less days lost from work
  • Less daytime sleepiness & lethargy
  • Reduction in headaches
  • A far higher sense of wellbeing.

Simply put, CPAP therapy can literally change your life for the better.