Sleep apnoea consultation
Book a 30 minute Sleep Apnoea Sleep Test
Snoring, daytime sleepiness, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and depression can impact sleep. If you have these symptoms or health conditions, book a sleep test to check if sleep apnoea is a contributing factor.
Please note: Sleep apnoea consultations are available at selected TerryWhite Chemmart pharmacies. Click book now to search your location.
How to claim $50 off RRP* on your overnight sleep test
3. Show your voucher in-store
Bring a digital or printed copy of your voucher to your sleep apnoea appointment at your local TerryWhite Chemmart, and show it to your Pharmacist to claim $50 off your overnight sleep test.
3. Show your voucher in-store
Bring a digital or printed copy of your voucher to your sleep apnoea appointment at your local TerryWhite Chemmart, and show it to your Pharmacist to claim $50 off your overnight sleep test.
*$50 off RRP on a sleep apnoea sleep test available in selected pharmacies and only valid 1 February - 12 April 2024
Explore sleep apnoea topics below
What is sleep apnoea?
Sleep apnoea, (sometimes spelled as apnea) is when a person involuntarily stops breathing while they are asleep. There are three kinds — obstructive, central, and mixed.
The most common is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) which is a potentially serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts. This occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax during sleep, partly or fully blocking the air passage as you breathe in and causing you to stop breathing for anywhere between a few seconds, to several minutes in some cases. You may also wake up briefly, yet be unaware this is happening.
It’s also common to wake up snorting, choking or gasping. This pattern may repeat throughout the night from between five to 30 times an hour, significantly impairing the quality of your sleep.
There are varying degrees of sleep apnoea that are classified according to how often breathing is interrupted.1
- Normal sleep — fewer than five interruptions per hour
- Mild sleep apnoea — between 5 and 15 interruptions per hour
- Moderate sleep apnoea — between 15 and 30 interruptions per hour
- Severe sleep apnoea — more than 30 interruptions per hour
Signs and symptoms of sleep apnoea
It’s common for people with sleep apnoea to be unaware they have this condition because they often won’t realise they stop breathing during the night. However, there are some signs and symptoms to look out for. These include2
- loud snoring (noticed by other people)
- tossing and turning
- episodes of not breathing during sleep (noticed by other people)
- waking up gasping or choking
- waking in the morning with a sore throat or dry mouth
- waking up with a headache
- feeling tired when you wake up
- excessive daytime sleepiness
- poor concentration
- moodiness including irritability and depression
- sweating at night
- high blood pressure
- reduced sex drive and/or impotence
What causes sleep apnoea?
When you’re awake, part of your throat called the pharynx (located behind the tongue) is kept open by small muscles. When you sleep, these muscles relax and cause the airway to narrow. Breathing through this narrow airway causes the air to vibrate and make the sound of snoring.
Sleep apnoea happens when these muscles relax too much to allow normal breathing. When these muscles relax too much to allow normal breathing, this causes the oxygen level in your blood to drop as airflow stops.
There are several factors3, 4 that can increase your risk for sleep apnoea which include:
- being overweight — this is the main risk factor for sleep apnoea5
- smoking
- medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, reduced thyroid production or large goitre
- some medications such as sleeping tablets and sedatives
- chronic nasal congestion
- naturally narrowed airways, facial bone shape and the size of throat muscles
- large tonsils, especially in children
- being male — men are twice as likely as premenopausal women to experience sleep apnoea, with the frequency in women increasing after menopause
- a family history of sleep apnoea
- drinking alcohol before bed
Is sleep apnoea dangerous?
Other than disturbing your sleep, sleep apnoea can cause several health problems or life-threatening conditions, so it’s important to take it seriously. Research shows that sleep apnoea is linked to an increased risk for other health conditions including:
- high blood pressure
- heart disease, including stroke
- type 2 diabetes
- headaches
- moodiness and depression
- less interest in sex, and impotence in men
- sudden cardiac arrest, due to the condition causing abnormal heart rhythms.
People with sleep apnoea are two and half times more likely to have a motor vehicle accident than people without it, due to being less alert, having poorer concentration and slower reaction times.6 Sleep apnoea may also lead to workplace accidents.
Children with sleep apnoea may display behavioural and development problems due to lack of sleep and feeling tired during the day.
How is sleep apnoea diagnosed?
Your doctor will evaluate your signs and symptoms and take your medical history. They should also examine the back of your throat, mouth and nose to check for abnormalities. However, diagnosing sleep apnoea is usually done through an overnight sleep study, which measures your sleep, breathing and oxygen levels.
Your local TerryWhite Chemmart Pharmacy can arrange an overnight sleep test for you. As required, you may be referred to a sleep specialist if you need further investigation.
Sleep apnoea treatment
Treating sleep apnoea can have many positive impacts:7
- 41% of consumers reported a decrease in blood pressure
- 62% reduction in smoking
- 31% reduction in alcohol consumption
- 49% improvement in depression symptoms
- 21% reduction in sleeping pill usage
Consumers with diabetes reported:
- 31% reduction in HbA1c with
- 50% less hospital visits
Sleep apnoea can be treated in several ways:
Lifestyle changes - If you have mild sleep apnoea, lifestyle measures such as the following can help:
- sleeping on your side (using special pillows or rubber wedges may help)
- losing weight if you’re overweight
- using decongestants and nasal sprays to relieve congestion
- quitting smoking
- avoiding alcohol before bed
- avoiding sleeping tablets and sedatives
Oral appliance - Wearing a specially made oral appliance (mouthguard) fitted by your dentist may also help. These hold your jaw forward during sleep, keeping the airway open.
CPAP machine - If the above treatments aren’t effective, it may be recommended you use a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. This is a mask worn over your nose and mouth while you sleep, that delivers air under gentle pressure. This keeps your throat open while you sleep, and is a very effective treatment for sleep apnoea.7
Surgery - In some cases, surgery on the nose, upper airway, or both may be required. However, surgery is usually only recommended when the above treatments haven’t been effective.
What you can do - If you notice any symptoms related to sleep apnoea — especially if you wake up gasping and choking or there are periods during sleep where you’re not breathing — you should visit your doctor and/or pharmacist.
How TerryWhite Chemmart can help
Any number of issues could be causing your sleep apnoea, including health conditions or medication. At TerryWhite Chemmart, we can help you manage your health conditions with a Medication Review, where one of our Pharmacists will review your medication and discuss what may suit you best. Participating TerryWhite Chemmart pharmacies can also arrange an overnight sleep test for you.