Sleep Services - Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Facts:

• 50% of people with high blood pressure have Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.
• 58% of people with type 2 diabetes have sleep apnoea
• 7 Times greater risk of a person with sleep apnoea of having a car accident
• 77% of people who are obese also have sleep aponea

Health Check Procedure:

Sleep apnoea can be diagnosed with an overnight at-home sleep test called a ‘polysomnogram’ or ‘sleep study’. You can hire the appropriate equipment to perform the test at home; the machine will monitor your blood oxygen levels, brain activity, heart rate, and breathing.

The results are uploaded from the testing device and emailed to a sleep specialist (a doctor) who makes the diagnosis. In some cases, the patient may be required to visit a sleep specialist for more tests. Your Unichem Pharmacists can also give you advice on managing the condition and making improvements to your sleep quality.

Are you a Living Rewards member? You can earn Rewards points for every Health Check*. Just let your team member know when booking your test.

Tips & Advice:

• Discuss a treatment plan with a your healthcare professional.
• Manage your weight through appropriate diet and exercise.
• Quit smoking and reduce your alcohol intake.
• Avoid the use of sedatives or sleeping tablets.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why do I have Sleep Apnoea?

There are a number of factors that increase the risk of developing sleep apnoea. These include:

1. Having a smaller or narrowed airway
2. Excessive weight
3. Smoking and alcohol
4. Ethnicity
5. Diabetes
6. Hypertension (high blood pressure)

How do you test for Sleep Apnoea?

Signs of sleep apnoea can include:

• Daytime sleepiness
• Loud snoring
• Waking up abruptly short of breath
• Irritability
• Mood changes

If you are unsure if this could be you, take our online sleep test to determine if you are eligible for a overnight take home sleep test.

What is involved in a Sleep Apnoea test?

Our overnight home sleep test involves a device being attached to your body with sensors that monitor your sleep, breathing patterns, pulse oximetry and pauses in breathing. When you wake up in the morning, turn the device off, remove the sensors and return the device to the pharmacy.

How long do the results take?

Allow 7 - 14 days for the results to come back from the sleep specialist and we will contact you immediately with the results.

Understanding Sleep Apnoea test results

One key indicator of sleep apnoea is the AHI (Apnoea Hypopnea Index) which is the number of apnoea recorded during the study per hour of sleep. Another key indicator is your oxygen saturation levels which shows the level of oxygen in your blood while you are asleep. A sleep apnoea trained team member will go through all of this information with you so that you understand exactly what the sleep test results mean.

Are the results a conclusive diagnosis?

Once you have completed a full night sleep of at least four hours, return the device to the pharmacy. A team member will download the data and send it to our sleep specialist doctors for review. Once the store receives your results, you will be contacted immediately to go through your report and to explain the results. If you have sleep apnoea, the results will explain the severity of your sleep apnoea and recommended treatment options. Usually treatment involves trialling or purchasing a CPAP machine, mask and accessories which will help you have a better night sleep and improve your quality of life.