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- What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?
- Who has Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?
- This could be me, what should I do?
- How do I found out more?
- Are there any regulations about driving if you have OSA?
- How do I travel with CPAP?
Sleep Apnoea Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?
People with OSA are unable to sleep properly. Their sleep is constantly disrupted by snoring and obstruvted breathing to the extent that they briefly stop breathing. This can happen several hundred times each night. Sufferers often fall asleep during the day even whilst working or driving.
Treatment, which is normally instantly effective, is to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This involves the use of a small electric pump connected to a nasal mask.
Cental Sleep Apnoea is slightly different, in this variant the brain forgets to breath during sleep.
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Q. Who has Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?
It is estimated that about 80,000 people in Britain suffer from OSA. They are mostly (but not all) men, mostly (but not all) overweight, especially around the neck, and they all snore.
They feel tired and sleepy during the day and at night are often observed to stop breathing.
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Q. This could be me, what should I do?
Speak to your GP who will be able to refer you to a specialist sleep clinic.
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Q. How do I found out more?
If you would like to learn more contact the Sleep Apnoea Trust direct. Our contact page tells you how.
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Q. Are there any regulations about driving if you have OSA?
If you have been diagnosed as a sufferer, the DVLA has regulations about this. This is because driving accidents are much more likely with drivers having reduced vigilance and falling asleep at the wheel. Whether Group1 or Group 2, the DVLA must be informed. It is the legal responsibility of the licence holder to inform the DVLA, and if they fail to do so they are committing an offence.
Regardless of the cause of any sleepiness, it is common sense that one should not drive whilst sleepy.
A driver is legally responsible for his or her vigilance and thus an accident due to falling asleep is deemed the drivers fault.
Private Cars (Group 1 entitlement)
Driving must stop if there is excessive daytime sleepiness. Driving will again be permitted when satisfactory control of the symptoms is achieved, based on a specialist report.
PSV / HGV (Group 2 entitlement)
Driving must cease on diagnosis and cannot be resumed until the DVLA has received confirmation from the specialist that the condition is controlled. This should be possible soon after starting CPAP if all goes well.
If you are in doubt you may contact the Drivers Medical Unit, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1TU, telephone 0870 600 0301.
Further advice should also be available from the clinic making the diagnosis of OSA, as this is a problem they have to advise and help with all the time. Sleep clinics may be able to give priority for treatment to patients whose livelihood depends on continued driving. This whole area is discussed in issues 18 and 19 of Sleep Matters, the Society's newsletter.
Insurance
Please remember that your insurance company is entitled to request medical details for any condition currently under treatment, as are the police following severe accidents. If undeclared, your insurer may refuse to support any claim. Please check with your policy if you are required to declare new medical disorders.
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Q. How do I travel with CPAP?
An expanatory letter from your Sleep Clinic should accompany the machine to show customs or security officials.
Always check the electrical details of the countries you are visiting in advance. Some Sleep Clinics have multi voltage machines available on loan or hire so please check in plenty of time. Remember, you may need an extra long extension lead, spare fuses can also be helpful.
When flying, the CPAP machine should always be carried as hand luggage and must not be stored in the hold. Try and use a suitable case.
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