Drowsiness assessment test (epworth)

Not everyone who suffers from sleep apnea is sleepy during the day. The drowsiness assessment test allows you to assess your likelihood of drowsiness or falling asleep in different circumstances of daily life, it gives a good reflection of excessive drowsiness. If you want to know your level of sleepiness, take this test. It may be interesting to repeat the test a few weeks after the start of your treatment in order to observe the improvement in your condition.

If your result is greater than 10 , you have marked daytime sleepiness. Speak with your doctor, an investigation would be necessary.

If your result is less than 10 , but you have some symptoms, it would be a good idea to discuss this with your doctor.

Access the tool interactive screening

Diagnostic examinations

In order to determine the need to prescribe a specific diagnostic test for sleep apnea, your doctor will assess your health condition, your symptoms and your medical history.

Sleep apnea can be diagnosed using the following three tests:

The choice of test will depend on your state of health, the doctor will prescribe the one that suits you best. These are performed under medical prescription only and can be performed in a sleep laboratory in a hospital or at home. They can also be done in a private clinic (costs not covered by the RAMQ).

In children and adolescents, the diagnostic tests are no different from those carried out in adults.

Only the doctor who has examined and questioned you can prescribe the tests, make the diagnosis of sleep apnea and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

These diagnostic tests will aim to determine what type of sleep breathing abnormalities you suffer from, because the treatment differs from one type to another. There are 4 types of sleep breathing abnormalities:

Results

Following a diagnostic test showing that you suffer from sleep apnea, your doctor will be able to establish the degree of severity of your apnea according to the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) calculated during the examination. . The latter represents the number of periods of apnea or hypopnea per hour of sleep.

Mild: 5 to 15 respiratory anomalies/hour*

Moderate: 15 to 30 respiratory anomalies/hour*

Severe: more than 30 respiratory anomalies/hour*

*According to the criteria established by the AASM

There are several treatments for sleep apnea. Your doctor will prescribe the most appropriate type of treatment according to your diagnosis, taking into account the degree of severity of your apnea and, if necessary, the other illnesses from which you suffer.

Buying a ppc device

A CPAP machine and mask, including the coaching and instruction you need, can cost between $1500 and $2200. A wide range of products exist on the market. To obtain optimal comfort, do not hesitate to try the most recent ones. Find out about prices, warranties and after-sales service when you're ready to make a purchase.

For now, the purchase of a continuous positive pressure device is not reimbursable by the Quebec Health Insurance Plan, but the costs related to the treatment are eligible for the tax credit for medical expenses. Consult the Canada Revenue Agency, Revenu Québec or a tax advisor for more information.

Also check with your private insurance plan to see if the purchase of such a device is covered. Otherwise, ask your distributor if they offer a lease-to-own program, a financing plan or refurbished devices at a lower cost.

Download your list of relevant questions to ask the supplier (PDF)

Choose a quality service

Check if:

• The supplier is recognized by Accreditation Canada;
• The supplier sells devices certified by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA);
• The medical director is a sleep medicine specialist who is a member of the College of Physicians of Quebec (in the case of a private sleep laboratory).

It is not recommended to buy someone else's used device without first having it checked by a knowledgeable healthcare professional since the adjustment of the pressure will have to be made according to your prescription. Also, the use of third party equipment is not recommended due to the risk of infection involved.

Discomforts

Here are some solutions to the discomforts sometimes encountered:

Traveling with a CPAP device

It is very important to carry your CPAP device with you when traveling. Your device must always accompany you in the cabin. Generally, airlines register the device as essential medical equipment if you have a copy of your prescription with you. Under no circumstances should you send your device in the baggage hold; it may be damaged or lost during transport.

Your device, although equipped with several electronic components, can pass through metal detectors at security checkpoints without any problem.

Finally, CPAP devices are now all equipped with a power converter ranging from 100 to 240 Volts allowing them to operate anywhere on the planet as long as you have a power adapter specific to the country visited.

Outdoor enthusiasts, don't be left out! You can use your device from a 12 Volt battery. Just get the 12V or 24V power cable designed for your device. Your device supplier is the best person to advise you.

Adopt healthy lifestyle habits

Following a diagnosis of a chronic disease such as sleep apnea, adopting healthy lifestyle habits will benefit you in the long term.

It is recommended for anyone with sleep apnea to:

Learn more about adopting good sleeping habits 

Driving and sleepiness

Just about everyone knows about the dangers of alcohol-impaired driving, but at the same time, few people realize that fatigued driving can have equally tragic consequences. Like alcohol, fatigue slows down reflexes and reaction time, diminishes attention, distorts judgment and increases the risk of accidents. A sleepless night is equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.08. A tired driver is a danger to himself and to others. People with sleep apnea who are not treated are twice as likely to be involved in a road accident.

According to the SAAQ (Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec), fatigue is involved in 22.7% of fatal accidents and in 20.5% of all accidents resulting in bodily injury on the roads of Quebec. Driver fatigue is the 3rd cause of accidents after speed and alcohol on our roads. Drivers of heavy vehicles are more affected by sleep apnea, about 28% of truckers suffer from it.

Due to decreased attention and alertness, people with untreated sleep apnea are more likely to be involved in a traffic accident. This excess risk can be corrected by regular use of the CPAP device.

Your diagnosis of sleep apnea must be declared to the SAAQ. Also, you need to be treated properly to maintain your driving license.

Points to remember

• Adaptation and evidence of treatment benefits can take up to 6 months.
• It is normal to have some difficulty falling asleep with the mask on for the first few nights. The important thing is to try the treatment EVERY night.
• At first, you may feel more tired than before the treatment. Adjusting to the CPAP device takes time and energy.
• The pressure level of your device has been adjusted for you, it should only be changed on the advice of a doctor.
• Do not stop using your CPAP device without talking to your doctor.
• It sometimes happens to wake up in the middle of the night without the mask, especially the first few times.
• Do not worry. Simply put it back on your face and try to go back to sleep.
• Give yourself a gradual adaptation period, wearing the mask even during the day or at night while awake.
• If you have trouble keeping your mask on at first, persevere and gradually increase the usage time until you're wearing it all night.
• Even for a short nap, use your device.
• Contact your supplier if you have any problems with your mask.
• Always bring your CPAP device with you when traveling or in the hospital.
• When asked for a list of your medications, be sure to also mention that you use a CPAP machine.
• Make sure your loved ones know you're using a CPAP device so they can pass this information on to you, in case you can't do it yourself.
• In the event of a power failure, your device will not work. Discuss backup power sources with your supplier. To save energy from the back-up power supply, it is suggested to shut down the humidifier during the outage.