Introduction to CPAP Treatment

Here you will find some useful notes on Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment, including an introduction for new patients using CPAP, and tips on use and maintenance of your CPAP equipment.

Click on any of the headings below to go to the relevant section:

Introduction to CPAP
CPAP Treatment with Sleep Services Australia
More Information
Links to CPAP Manufacturers

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)  is the most common and effective treatment for Sleep Apnoea. CPAP treats Sleep Apnoea by providing a gentle flow of positive pressure air through a mask to 'splint' the airways open during sleep.

When CPAP is applied, air is pumped in through a mask into your upper airway.  The air prevents the muscles in the upper airway from collapsing during sleep, as is the case in Sleep Apnoea and snoring.

When your airway collapses, you can no longer take in air normally.  Your body becomes deprived of oxygen, and often, your brain pattern is disturbed, leaving you feeling tired the following day.  Properly applied, CPAP prevents disturbed sleep, airway closure, and snoring.

When used properly, CPAP can alleviate the following symptoms caused by Sleep Apnoea:

• Sleepiness
• Fatigue
• Morning headaches
• Poor concentration or memory
• Decreased libido, or impotence
• Decreased attention
• Depression
• Decreased dexterity, and
• Personality changes.

CPAP is not a permanent cure for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).  CPAP will treat OSA and alleviate the symptoms associated with OSA, while it is used.  If you stop using CPAP, Sleep Apnoea will occur again.

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Sleep Services Australia provide a full CPAP Clinic service, including:

• CPAP Introduction and Fitting,
• CPAP Mask Fitting, and
• Treatment Review Sleep Studies - to assess the effectiveness of CPAP and to ensure that you are using the most appropriate equipment.

Click Here to download our CPAP Trial Brochure.

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• The CPAP Fitting appointment will take approximately one and a half hours, and is conducted with an experienced Sleep Scientist in one of our private consulting rooms with a full-sized bed. 
• We will ensure that you are comfortable, and are able to test out all the required equipment at your own pace.
• During the appointment, you will be fitted with a well-sealing, comfortable mask and trial CPAP machine. 
• You will then take home a CPAP machine and mask to use for a trial period of four (4) weeks. 

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During the four-week trial period, you will be contacted by a dedicated Sleep Services Australia staff member to monitor your progress with the CPAP equipment.  You can discuss any problems you may be having with CPAP with our Sleep Scientists. 

A subsequent Sleep Study is required within 2 weeks of your trial period expiring (Treatment Review Sleep Study), followed by a return visit to Sleep Services Australia. 

During the follow-up visit (your Third Visit), we will make alterations to your CPAP machine based on information that we have gathered from your Treatment Review Sleep Study.

A Treatment Review Sleep Study is required in order for us to know what is happening in your airway while you sleep with CPAP, and to treat your Sleep Apnoea optimally.  This will occur 2 weeks after the end of your CPAP Trial.

You should make an appointment with your referring doctor towards the end of your 4-week CPAP Trial to discuss your progress, and the results from your Treatment Review Sleep Study on CPAP.

After your 4-week Trial, you will return your CPAP loan equipment to Sleep Services Australia. 

We will then provide you with information to enable you to purchase your own CPAP equipment. 

We also offer a wide range of CPAP Equipment for sale, and in some instances, long-term hire of CPAP Machines - contact us Toll Free on 1300 867 533 for further information.

We recommend that you have a Sleep Study every 12 months, or more if you have lost or gained weight.  This will ensure that your CPAP equipment is working as well as it should, and to make any necessary adjustments to the CPAP Machine and/or Mask.

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• Click Here to go to our CPAP Clinic page;
• Complete our Online Query Form (Click Here) or e-mail your contact details to query@sleepservicesaustralia.com.au
• Call us Toll Free on 1300 867 533.

• Fisher & Paykel - http://www.fphcare.com.au/osa/cpap.asp
• Respironics - http://mseries.respironics.com/ or http://remstar.respironics.com/
• ResMed - http://resmed.com.au/portal/site/ResMedAU/index.jsp?front_door=true

Please Note: This information is intended to be used as a guide only and is not an authoritative statement. Please consult your family doctor or sleep  physician if you have further questions relating to the information provided here.

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