What is sleep apnea?
About La boite à CPAP
The origin of La Boite à CPAP
With nearly 10 years of experience in the health sector, Annie-Claude Fouquette is the sole owner of La Boite à CPAP. A trained respiratory therapist, she draws on her expertise to perform diagnostic tests and treat sleep apnea.
When she realized that the crowded waiting lists of the public healthcare system meant that some patients with severe sleep apnea were diagnosed late and others awaiting a sleep examination for a major surgery were delayed, this young entrepreneur decided to start her own sleep apnea clinic.
La boite à CPAP mission
What is sleep apnea?
SAHS (Sleep Apnea and Hypopnea Syndrome) is a sleep disorder caused by breathing interruptions (apneas) and/or decreases in respiratory flow (hypopneas) of at least 10 seconds and resulting in decreased oxygen saturation in the blood. Apneas can be caused by obstruction of the upper airways and/or interruption of the automatic breathing system. SAHS can be mild, moderate or severe depending on test results.
There are three types of sleep apnea:
- OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) is the most common type and represents the majority of sleep apnea diagnoses.
- CSA (central sleep apnea) is rarer and can be caused by medications like opioids or heart failure.
- Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of OSA and CSA.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
- Permanent fatigue
- Snoring
- Depression
- Frequently waking up at night
- Dry mouth when you wake up
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Night sweats
- Headaches when waking up
What are the risk factors for sleep apnea?
- Obesity (BMI > 30)
- Genetics
- Male over 40 years old
- Smoker
Some diseases are associated with sleep apnea:
Moderate to severe untreated sleep apnea can lead to the development of one of the above-mentioned conditions, a stroke, loss of employment or a road accident. That’s why it’s important to receive the appropriate treatment if you have sleep apnea.
