Sleep Therapy/CPAP
Ontario Home Health Sleep Therapy
At Ontario Home Health, we take pride in providing high quality care to our clients. Our team of skilled healthcare professionals is here to serve. We work to help with a great experience with your treatment and a smooth transition into your therapy.
Our expertise covers both adult and pediatric sleep disorders, supported by a team of knowledgeable, experienced, and passionate professionals who are ready to assist you. Our culture and passion revolves around providing quality care to help you Live Life on Your Terms.
Our commitment to our clients:
Best in class client support: We deliver personalized education, dedicated support, and exceptional service, all tailored to help you sleep better. Our Sleep Clinicians are experts in CPAP Therapy and are here to answer any questions and provide support along the way.
Product Expertise: We ensure that our clients have access to a wide selection of Sleep Therapy / CPAP products, ensuring that we can help find the right solution for quality sleep.
Stress-Free Experience: With offices across Southwestern Ontario, your local clinician will work with you to meet your particular CPAP needs while also offering you a great selection of equipment. Sleep therapy is a long term commitment, and we are here to be by your side and help you on the journey.
What is Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition where throat muscles relax during sleep, leading to narrowed airways and restricted airflow. As a result, breathing becomes shallow and may even pause briefly, resulting in reduced oxygen supply to the body and brain. This disruption in breathing can prevent deep sleep, causing significant fatigue and increasing the likelihood of severe health issues.
This condition affects 22% of Canadians, many of who remain undiagnosed, as they are often unaware of their condition.
Sleep Apnea can have many negative consequences, including personality changes, morning headaches, and increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and workplace injuries. If left untreated, it can lead to significant co-morbidities, many of which can be fatal.
Sleep Apnea can be characterized into: Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
- CSA – This less common condition is caused by a brief lack of communication between the brain and the muscles that control breathing. This leads to pauses in breathing due to the brain and the muscles that control breathing not functioning properly. As a result, a person with CSA repeatedly stops trying to breathe as they sleep.
- OSA – The more common condition is characterized by repeated obstruction to the airway during sleep. After a person with OSA falls asleep, their throat muscles relax and block the airway. This happens off and on many times during sleep, leading to frequent awakenings and disturbed sleep.
Symptoms
Diagnosing and Treatment
Ontario Home Health’s sleep team is here to offer clinical support and consultations on your sleep therapy. Whether it’s your first time using a device, or you have benefitted from therapy before, we are here to help.
The typical process clients go through:
- Speak with their medical professional (family doctor or specialist) about Sleep Apnea
- Have a Sleep Study Done (Link: Sleep Labs).
- Visit one of our specialists to discuss your therapy & try the variety of sizes and styles that fit your comfort best.
- Continue to be in contact with our specialists throughout your journey to ensure effective therapy.
CPAP Therapy
Sleep Therapy Products
Click below to learn more about Sleep Therapy Products and Solutions
CPAP/APAP/BiPAP Machine
CPAP Masks and Hoses/Tubes
CPAP Accessories
Maintaining your CPAP Equipment
It is essential to maintain your equipment to prevent infection, enhance your therapy, and ensure the life of the machine.
Cleaning and maintaining your CPAP
Dirt, oil, and bacteria can build up on your CPAP parts, so it’s not only important to clean them as per instructions, but also to replace each part regularly. As masks, hoses, and filters age, they can grow a large amount of bacteria and may become resistant to disinfection.
Daily
- Mask: Clean the mask using CPAP specific wipes or mild detergents. You can also use a sanitation device such as the Lumen UVC Sanitizer.
- Humidifier: Empty the humidifier chamber and rinse it thoroughly
Weekly
- Hose: Run warm, soapy water through the tubing and use a Tube brush. Rinse and air dry. You can also use a sanitation device such as the Lumen UVC Sanitizer.
- Humidifier: Wash with warm, soapy water, rinse, and place upside down.
Monthly
- Filter: Change the filter every 30 days. This is essential for infection control and correct motor operation of the machine.
Every 6 months
- Mask: Replace the complete mask every 6 months. The oils in skin degrade the seal and the buildup in the mask can lead to a large amount of bacteria, risking infection.
- Hose: Replace the hose every 3-6 months. Bacteria buildup in the hose can lead to infection.
- Humidifier: Replace every 6 months. This is essential for correct operation and level of humidity.
Funding
Key questions to ask your insurer
- Do they need a copy of the CPAP prescription?
- What other documentation do they need?
- What percentage do they cover?
- Do they cover future replacement of ‘soft goods’
- like masks, headgear, hoses, and filters?
Find a Sleep Lab
Physician Sleep Referrals
Ontario Home Health places the highest priority on client needs. Our commitment is to deliver top-notch Sleep Therapy and Respiratory care that centres on client comfort and therapy compliance.
We provide quick follow-through on referrals and prioritize getting clients into equipment efficiently and quickly. Our team of Sleep Clinical Specialists is skilled in empowering clients with self-management techniques that enhance their quality of life.
After the client has received their equipment, we monitor their compliance for 30 days and follow up quarterly to check whether they are comfortable using the equipment and following best practices.
For referrals, please use the prescription form below. Once you have completed the form, it can be faxed directly to us at 1-866-388-7681.
FAQ's
Your CPAP system is the most common therapy used to treat sleep apnea. It is designed and developed for everyday use. We understand that it could be overwhelming at first,but most people get used to it very quickly. We will work with you along the way to ensure you know how to teach you to use the equipment properly and are comfortable with its fit and usage. Don’t give up if it is challenging for the first few weeks–all good things take time to adjust.
Cleaning and regularly replacing your equipment ensures you breathe clean air and prevent infection. As masks, hoses, and filters age, they can grow a large amount of bacteria and may become resistant to disinfection. Remember that the equipment provides air that goes into your lungs–you want it to be infection free
Untreated Sleep Apnea can lead to significant health problems in the future, including:
- Daytime fatigue. The repeated awakenings associated with sleep apnea make typical, restorative sleep impossible, in turn making severe daytime drowsiness,fatigue and irritability likely. You might have trouble concentrating and find yourself falling asleep at work, while watching TV or even when driving. People with sleep apnea have an increased risk of motor vehicle and workplace accidents.
- Mood Changes: You might also feel quick-tempered, moody or depressed.Children and adolescents with sleep apnea might perform poorly in school or have behavior problems.
- High blood pressure or heart problems. Sudden drops in blood oxygen levels that occur during sleep apnea increase blood pressure and strain the cardiovascular system. Having sleep apnea increases your risk of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. It may also increase your risk of recurrent heart attack, stroke and irregular heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation. If you have heart disease, multiple episodes of low blood oxygen (hypoxia or hypoxemia) can lead to sudden death from an irregular heartbeat.
- Type 2 diabetes. Having sleep apnea increases your risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
- Metabolic syndrome. This disorder, which includes high blood pressure,abnormal cholesterol levels, high blood sugar and an increased waist circumference, is linked to a higher risk of heart disease.
- Liver problems. People with sleep apnea are more likely to have irregular results on liver function tests, and their livers are more likely to show signs of scarring,known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Sleep-deprived partners. Loud snoring can keep anyone who sleeps nearbyfrom getting good rest. It’s common for a partner to have to go to another room,or even to another floor of the house, to be able to sleep.
An Ontario Home Health consultant can assist you in scheduling a trial on specific equipment, as available. It may not be the exact same device that will be delivered, but you can try it out on an equivalent to the prescribed device.
The purpose of CPAP is to provide pressurized air into your lungs, so inhaling automatically feels easier than exhaling. However, if the difference is drastic, consult our experts; we can help improve your comfort.
Mask fitting needs practice initially. Avoid over-tightening or leaving loose ends or air leaks; it may go take some practice. You may also use a lubricant on the mask or your face for a tighter seal. Each CPAP system comes with an instruction manual; follow that for best results. If the problem persists, contact our experts immediately.
There might be issues with your mask fitting, or you might be inhaling excess air. Contact our experts if you continue to snore even with the CPAP system.
Yes, using distilled water is essential. Tap water contains minerals and micro-bacteria that can cause issues with your machine and lead to infection.
Feeling better is the goal of Sleep Therapy. Discontinuing use can lead to the same issues of Sleep Apnea you faced prior to therapy. CPAP therapy is a treatment, not a cure. We recommend that you do not stop using the CPAP system unless your physician tells you to stop.
