Sleep Apnea Diagnosis & Treatment Journey

8 steps to better sleep and better health

When you first learn you have sleep apnea and are prescribed CPAP therapy, you may feel overwhelmed. That’s normal! But it’s also important not to become discouraged by the diagnosis and therapy process so you can do what's best for your health.

Step 1

Take ResMed's free sleep assessment

In less than 3 minutes, our free sleep assessment can let you know whether you may be at risk for sleep apnea.

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Step 2

Find a sleep specialist near you

Your doctor may refer you to a sleep specialist at a sleep clinic. The specialist may recommend you schedule a clinical sleep test (or sleep study) to track your nighttime habits and diagnose any sleep disorders.

Find a sleep lab to get in touch with a specialist or schedule a sleep test.

Next Step

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Step 3

Take a clinical sleep test

A clinical sleep study test uses sensors and monitoring equipment to measure your heart, lung and brain functions as you sleep to diagnose your symptoms.

You can take an overnight sleep test at a sleep clinic, or you can order an at-home sleep test online.

Healthcare pro tip: An at-home sleep study test will diagnose sleep apnea as well as a clinical sleep test. However, a sleep clinic test may offer a more complete picture of how sleep apnea is affecting your body if you have other chronic conditions.

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Step 4

Sleep test results and diagnosis

After your sleep apnea test is complete, you and your doctor will go over your results together and discuss your diagnosis. If you have sleep apnea, you’ll learn its severity and potential health effects, then explore the best treatment options.

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Step 5

Sleep apnea prescription and CPAP therapy equipment

If you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, your doctor will provide you with a written prescription for CPAP equipment. The prescription will include:

CPAP equipment:

A CPAP machine provides you with positive airway pressure (PAP) while you sleep – a specific airflow that’s determined by your doctor. The machine connects to a mask, tubing and humidifier, which work together to gently flow air into your lungs while you sleep, so you can breathe comfortably.

Airflow pressure settings:

Your doctor will prescribe a set air pressure level for your new CPAP machine. The air pressure setting tells the machine how much air, and at what speed, is required to keep your airway open.

Healthcare pro tip: Your machine settings will be adjustable to help ensure your therapy is comfortable and optimal.

See the complete CPAP system
Next Step

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Step 6

Picking up your CPAP equipment

Your CPAP equipment provider is responsible for:

  • Providing and setting up your equipment (including your mask)
  • Monitoring your therapy
  • Answering questions and providing troubleshooting support (dealing with mask leaks, fitting issues, etc.)
  • Helping you order regular replacement parts

Healthcare pro tip: You should never feel like you're on this journey alone! Make sure the relationship with your CPAP equipment store is a good one, and that you're confident you’ll get the support you need.

CPAP stores near me
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Step 7

Start your CPAP therapy

Here are some helpful tips on how to get started using your CPAP equipment:

Practice using your equipment

Practice wearing and breathing with your mask during the day to become comfortable with the airflow it provides while you sleep. Remember, this experience is different for everyone!

Talk to family and friends

Let your family and friends know about your sleep apnea and CPAP therapy so they can support you.

Register your CPAP products

When you register, you’ll receive smart tips on how to get started, how to clean and maintain your equipment, replacement reminders, product updates and more.

Register now
Next Step

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Step 8

Track your therapy and receive personalized tips

With the free myAir™ application, you’ll see how well you slept and receive personalized coaching tips based on your data. You may also sleep longer! More than 1.8 million people use myAir to track their CPAP treatment and consistently sleep 1 hour longer than other CPAP users. 1 Source: myAir is available to AirSense™ 10 and AirCurve™ 10 users.

myAir is available to AirSense™ 10 and AirCurve™ 10 users.

myAir also includes a how-to guide, videos and more.

Download is subject to availability of application approval in each country.

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Keep exploring

Product list

Take a look at our extensive range of products that cater to your needs throughout your treatment journey

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Need any help?

Having any difficulties? Talk to us so we can make your CPAP journey even better.

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Starting CPAP therapy stories

Watch video stories from real patients as they describe their diagnosis and life-changing treatment experience.  

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References

1

Source: Crocker M et al. Patient Engagement Using New Technology to Improve Adherence to Positive Airway Pressure Therapy: A Retrospective Analysis. CHEST 2016.

1

Source: Crocker M et al. Patient Engagement Using New Technology to Improve Adherence to Positive Airway Pressure Therapy: A Retrospective Analysis. CHEST 2016.

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