Basic HTML Version
FireFlyz | 31
delivering pressurised air through a nose
mask that is worn throughout the night
– a small price to pay to be well rested.
For milder cases of OSA, a custom-
made device called a dental splint helps
to extend the jaw forward, easing the
breathing process during slumber. For
those with large tonsils, surgery is an
option as well.
So if you often find yourself feeling
sleepy during the day despite having
the full six to eight hours of “rest”, have
partners who complain about your loud
snoring and generally feel horrible about
everything, then it would be wise to
schedule a sleep study to find out the
causes of your sleep problems.
Stop the lethargy. Get tested. Start
living life to its fullest!
Why DoesThis Happen?
OSA tends to be due to either congenital
or physical causes. For congenital cases,
some people are naturally born with
narrow airways or large tonsils, which
partially obstruct their airways when
they sleep.
For patients suffering from obesity,
excess fat can obstruct the passageway
when patients lie down, thus causing
temporary obstructions in the air pas-
sageways.
SoWhat Can I Do?
If you suspect that you or someone you
love is suffering from OSA, then it is
important to get a sleep study done right
away in order to assess the severity of
the condition.
This is important because not only is
there a way to effectively and efficiently
improve the patient’s quality of sleep and
boost their overall health and well-being,
but it also means that those who sleep
near or around patients with OSA can
get better sleep without loud, interruptive
snoring too! A truly win-win situation
for everyone.
Sleep Study Centre @ KPJ Damansara
Specialist Hospital
At the Sleep Study Centre in KPJ Daman-
sara Specialist Hospital, patients admitted
for OSA will firstly undergo an overnight
sleep test, where the patient’s sleep
pattern can be assessed via computerised
polysomnography.
Depending on the severity of the OSA
in the patient, different treatments can
then be prescribed.
OSA Treatment Options
Sleep Apnoea is actually a
very common health issue,
but due to a lack of aware-
ness, not many people are
aware that it exists, let
alone that there are effec-
tive treatments. According
to Dato’ Dr. Zainudin, the
main bulk of OSA cases
presented are treated with
the Nasal Continuous
Positive Airway Pressure
device (CPAP), one of the
most effective and com-
mon treatments for OSA.
The CPAP device acts
like a blower to keep the
upper airway open by
A KPJ nurse assists a patient
with finding a suitable mask
fit for the CPAP machine
A Continuous Positive Airway
Pressure (CPAP machine)