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SOME
TIPS IN DEALING WITH SUSPECTED SLEEP APNOEA
The
following symptoms indicate that
you may be suffering from a respiratory sleep disorder such
as Sleep Apnoea:
- Loud
snoring
- Cessation
of breathing during sleep, followed by an abrupt awakening
- Excessive
Daytime Sleepiness
- Drowsy
driving
- Irritability
- Difficulty
with concentration or repetitive tasks
- Difficulty
with staying awake while watching television or reading
- Difficulty/impairment
of short term memory
- Hypertension
(High Blood Pressure)
- Neck/collar
size of 17 inches plus
These
symptoms are merely indicators and are not meant as a definitive
diagnosis.
Contact
your General Practitioner/Family Doctor.
Explain
the symptoms and request a referral to a Sleep Clinic.
If
your symptoms include Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and affect your
ability to drive or operate machinery you should stop these
activities immediately as you are a danger to yourself, your family
and your work colleagues. Your
GP should also inform the Sleep Clinic that your symptoms might be a
danger to yourself and others.
If
possible, agree or request to be placed on a ‘cancellation list’,
however you must be available at short notice should a vacancy arise.
If
you are unable to attend for your appointment make sure to let the Sleep
Clinic know well in advance as they will be able to contact someone on
the ‘cancellation list’.
Follow
all instructions from the Sleep Clinic.
Remember,
the only definite way to diagnose a respiratory sleep disorder is by
way of a Sleep Study (Polysomnogram).
These can only be carried out by qualified staff in a Sleep
Clinic.
The
procedure is non invasive and is painless.
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