What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)?

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a breathing disorder that affects more than 22 million Americans and an estimated 700,000 Britons – approximately 4% of middle-aged men and 2% of middle-aged women.

Physiological factors such as size of tonsils, shape of the nose, narrowing of the upper airway, or any combination of these can contribute to the potential for having OSA. During sleep, your airway can relax so much that it begins to collapse and becomes obstructed. Relaxation allows the tissue at the back of your throat to vibrate as you breathe causing snoring. But as your airway collapses more fully, it blocks your airflow and stops your breathing altogether. (In fact, the word “apnoea” is derived from a Greek term meaning “without breath.”)

This stoppage occurs repeatedly throughout the night, each episode lasting from just a few seconds to more than a minute. As your blood oxygen level drops to dangerous levels, your central nervous system triggers a sudden gasp for breath, partially awakening you and preventing you from experiencing the sustained, deep sleep your body needs. As a result, it is common to feel fatigued, stressed and irritable the following day – a less-than-optimal and potentially dangerous condition in which to work, drive, and make decisions.

There are important medical concerns as well. OSA starves your heart, brain, and organs of life-sustaining oxygen. Over time, this deprivation can seriously impact your health potentially resulting in memory loss, impotence, hypertension, coronary disease, strokes, and heart attacks. Recent studies indicate that OSA has the same risk factor for heart disease as smoking, high cholesterol and alcohol, and estimate that as many as 38,000 people a year die from the effects of OSA.

Clearly, OSA is a serious medical condition that requires attention and treatment.

How CPAP Therapy Works

There are several treatments for OSA including surgery and CPAP therapy. However, CPAP therapy has proven very effective for most patients. CPAP stands for “continuous positive airway pressure” which is exactly what the DeVilbiss SleepCube (IntelliPAP) device delivers to your upper airway, acting as an “air splint” to keep the passage open while you sleep.

This reduces or eliminates the obstruction, allowing you to enjoy the deep, refreshing, uninterrupted sleep you need. More importantly, your body will get the rest and oxygen it needs with more continuous, uninterrupted sleep – helping you avoid some of the serious health risks associated with OSA. And the SleepCube is designed to provide this therapy to you quietly and comfortably so that you can sleep through the night without distraction.

The DeVilbiss SleepCube AutoAdjust system automatically adjusts air pressure by measuring your snoring and breathing patterns on a breath-by-breath basis, and compensating to meet your pressure needs. Your breathing patterns are continuously analyzed, stored and used to make any needed pressure adjustment.

The rate of pressure adjustment can be as high as 10 cmH2O in a 10 minute period with changes made gradually enough to prevent disturbing your sleep yet quickly enough to respond to your pressure needs. In the absence of respiratory events, the pressure is reduced to maximize your comfort. The SleepCube AutoAdjust is also capable of operating in CPAP mode – without the automatic functionality described above – to give your physician maximum versatility in prescribing treatment for your sleep condition.

Acclimating To Your Therapy

Naturally anything new – including CPAP therapy – takes some getting used to. Having your mouth or nose (or both) covered by a mask may make you feel anxious or claustrophobic. Feeling the rush of air from your SleepCube may cause discomfort or concern. But don’t worry – every successful, long-term CPAP user began where you are today with the same reactions and concerns, and overcame them to enjoy the full benefits of their therapy.

Here are some steps to help you gradually ease into your therapy and overcome your anxieties:

1. Try attaching the mask to the CPAP unit, and switching the unit “On.” Practice breathing through the mask for one hour while watching television, reading, or performing some other sitting activity.
2. If you nap, use the CPAP during this time.
3. Use CPAP at least during the first initial 3-4 hours of nighttime sleep.
4. Use CPAP through an entire night of sleep.

Advance through the above steps one step at a time and progress to the next step as soon as you can carry out the current step without anxiety.

Benefits Of Your Therapy

As a DeVilbiss SleepCube user, you are on your way to living a happier, healthier life – a life free from the sleep disruptions and health risks associated with OSA. After you become acclimated to CPAP therapy, you may be surprised at how much better you feel, both physically and emotionally. CPAP therapy may give you the opportunity to finally experience the deep, restful sleep you’ve been missing out on. Many patients find they have more energy, better judgment, and improved concentration during the day. With effective therapy you’ll be less stressed, less irritable and more like your old self again, with a healthy, positive outlook on life. In fact, you may well wish you’d gotten your SleepCube sooner!

Helpful Resources

As you begin your SleepCube therapy, remember: you’re not in this alone! You’re part of a large and growing network of CPAP users, and many resources are available to answer your questions, address your concerns, and help make your therapy as effective and effortless as possible.

• UK: CPAP User Forums
• US: Sleep Apnea Support Forums - CPAP

This article by DeVilbiss Healthcare is part of the SleepCube (IntelliPAP) user manual and has been slightly adapted for the European market. Visit DeVilbiss Healthcare for more information about DeVilbiss sleep therapy products.