COULD YOU HAVE SLEEP APNOEA?

​The Epworth Sleepiness Questionnaire is one of the tools used to diagnose sleep apnoea. A score of 10 or more puts you at a higher risk of sleep apnoea.  Find the questionnaire below

How likely are you to doze off or fall asleep when (Score: 0-3 - 0=never 3=high):
•Sitting and reading?
•Watching television?
•Sitting inactive in a public place (ie. theatre or meeting)?
•As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break?
•Lying down in the afternoon when circumstances permit?
•Sitting and taking to someone?
•Sitting quietly after lunch without alcohol?
•In a car as a driver stopped for a few minutes in traffic?
Add your total score (out of 24). Did you score 10 or more? What does this mean? 

The word 'apnoea' means 'no breath' or 'stopping breathing', therefore someone with sleep apnoea stops breathing while they are asleep. This leads to surges in heart rate and blood pressure and therefore disturbed sleep, resulting in sleepiness the next day as well as reduced memory.
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A sleep test is required to accurately diagnose sleep apnoea, as it measures how many apnoea’s or hypopneas you have per hour; this is how many times you stop breathing or have restricted breathing. A home sleep test is run in your own home in your own bed, although the set-up is done in-store and requires our referral form to be completed by your doctor. Come in a see us for more information and to pick up a referral form.