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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
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Irritability
-
Difficulty with concentration or repetitive tasks
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Difficulty with staying awake while watching television or reading
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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. |
