Frequently Asked Questions

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs when your airway temporarily collapses during sleep. You continue to make efforts to breathe but are unable to move air in and out of your lungs because of the obstruction at the back of your throat.

During the collapse, which can last from 10 seconds to over a minute, your breathing muscles continue to work with a progressive effort until you awaken and resume normal breathing. After a few breaths, your oxygen levels return to normal. You fall back asleep, and the airway obstruction recurs. This cycle may continue throughout the night, disrupting your normal sleep pattern. As a result, you may complain of unrefreshing sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Read more about sleep apnea.

Resolve Sleep Health is here to help. Start by taking our online sleep health quiz and booking a consultation. Feel free to get in touch with us anytime to discuss your symptoms.

After your diagnosis, we’ll review your results and guide you through personalized treatment options to create a plan that’s effective, comfortable, and suited to your lifestyle. If obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is confirmed, treatment may include options such as CPAP therapy, oral appliances, or other clinically appropriate solutions.

If your sleep concerns are not related to OSA, Resolve Sleep Health offers clinically supervised care for other sleep disorders, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT‑I). Our evidence‑based approach focuses on identifying and treating the underlying causes of sleep disruption to improve sleep quality and daytime functioning.

Ongoing support is part of the process. We’ll continue to check in, make adjustments as needed, and ensure your treatment is working for you.

An HSAT (Home Sleep Apnea Test) is a simple and convenient way to assess your sleep at home. It begins with booking your appointment online or by phone (depending on the province you’re located in; no referral may be required). After your request is submitted, a Sleep Health clinician will contact you to schedule your test, and your home testing kit will be delivered directly to your door or made available for pickup at your nearest location. On the night of your sleep study, you’ll follow simple instructions to complete the test in the comfort of your own bed. Once the sleep test is complete, our clinical team will carefully review your results and provide a personalized plan, guiding you through the next steps and any therapy options if needed.

A Home Sleep Apnea Test, also known as HSAT, allows you to sleep in the comfort of your own home while wearing a portable monitoring device. Polysomnography, commonly referred to as PSG, is a comprehensive sleep study performed overnight at a specialized sleep clinic or hospital.

Learn more about the difference between the two.

In many provinces, a referral from your family doctor is required for PSG, but HSAT may be available directly through sleep health clinics like Resolve Sleep Health.  

The amount of sleep required for a sleep study can vary depending on the specific purpose and protocol of the study. In general, a standard overnight sleep study typically involves monitoring your sleep for a required minimum of 4 hours; however, 6-8 hours is preferred.  

This timeframe allows for a comprehensive assessment of your sleep patterns, including the different sleep stages and any potential disruptions or abnormalities.

It’s common to experience difficulty sleeping during a sleep study due to the presence of sensors. However, rest assured that this typically does not impact the accuracy of your test results. 

Nevertheless, if you have any concerns or difficulties, it’s essential to communicate them to your Respiratory Therapist. They will be able to address your concerns and provide appropriate guidance. Remember, your Respiratory Therapist is there to support you throughout the sleep study process and ensure you have a comfortable experience. 

CPAP, which stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, is a specific pressure-generating machine that provides air pressure to a mask worn on your nose or mouth. The pressure generated within this mask is applied to your airways and lungs. This applied pressure acts like a splint, keeping the airway patent and free of snoring and obstruction.  

CPAP therapy is 99% effective when used appropriately and is considered the GOLD STANDARD treatment for sleep apnea.

On a macro level, each type of PAP device provides and delivers a unique level(s) of air pressure. On a micro level, a standard CPAP machine provides a single, continuous level of air pressure. An APAP machine automatically adjusts the pressure up or down throughout the night based on the patient’s breathing patterns. A BiPAP machine delivers two distinct pressure levels, one for inhaling and a lower one for exhaling, offering the highest level of pressure support among the three.

The main difference between PAP devices and alternative snoring options is that PAP devices are medical devices that treat sleep apnea by delivering positive airway pressure, while alternative snoring options, such as APAP devices and ExciteOSA devices (available in select provinces), are designed to address snoring specifically.

We can help guide you through the entire process, from identification to selection. We do so by taking into account the uniqueness of your circumstances, your ideals and preferences, as well as your overall lifestyle. Book your consultation today.

Yes, a valid prescription is required to purchase a PAP (Positive Airway Pressure) device including CPAP, APAP and BiPAP/Bi-Level machines. The prescription ensures we are able to properly calibrate the PAP device for your specific sleep apnea treatment. If you don’t have a prescription, please work with your physician.  

Don’t have a physician? Our Resolve Enhanced Sleep Care team can help. 

Upon being prescribed CPAP therapy, your sleep clinician will take the time to give you all the facts about obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), CPAP therapy as well as financial considerations surrounding the therapy. They will also show you a wide range of CPAP machines and CPAP masks and assist you in selecting equipment that best meets YOUR needs.

The effects of this treatment are generally quite noticeable. Many patients report positive results within 1 – 2 nights, most notably in their level of energy and improved focus. For others, it can take up to a month to feel any signs of improvement.

Making the shift to a CPAP machine can be quite an adjustment. We recommend that you try out the advised therapy in our presence first, before using it at home.

Unless you experience a significant weight gain or loss, the CPAP setting does not normally change. It is possible that your sleep clinician will want you to have follow-up sleep studies to evaluate the effectiveness of your therapy. If this is the case, you will be notified by the sleep clinician if your CPAP prescription changes after a follow-up sleep study.  

Some sleep clinicians will perform follow-up sleep studies only if sleep apnea symptoms return. If you feel as though your CPAP therapy is no longer effective, you are encouraged to contact your sleep clinician.

At all Resolve Sleep Health clinics, we offer continual monitoring, regular follow-up appointments, and patient-centered care to track progress, make adjustments to treatment plans, and ensure patients feel supported throughout their treatment journey.

A PAP device relies on several supplies to support effective and comfortable therapy, including a mask (with cushion or nasal pillows), headgear, tubing, air filters, and a humidifier water chamber. Over time, many of these items require regular replacement due to normal wear and hygiene needs (view replacement schedule). Timely replacement helps maintain a proper seal, promote clean airflow, and ensure therapy effectiveness. Optional comfort and maintenance accessories, such as cleaning supplies, CPAP pillows, skin‑care products, and backup batteries, can enhance ease of use but are not part of routine replacement schedules.  

At Resolve Sleep Health, we offer a comprehensive selection of PAP accessories and can help you stay on track with recommended replacements to support long‑term therapy success. 

No prescription is required to purchase CPAP masks, replacement supplies, or sleep accessories. However, a prescription will be required to be able to purchase a PAP device. (CPAP, APAP, or BiPAP machine).

If you’re uncertain as to which accessories you require and when to seek out a prescription, simply send an inquiry to your primary care physician, sleep expert, or us here at Resolve Sleep Health.

Choosing the right PAP mask comes down to several factors, including but not limited to your unique preferences, sleeping position, air pressure required, and comfort. It also depends on whether or not you’re a mouth breather, a nasal breather, or a combination of the two.  

The Resolve Sleep Health team can help guide you through the entire process, from identification to purchase! 

Please note that the replacement intervals shown below are only guidelines. You should refer to your equipment’s operation manual(s) for manufacturers’ recommendations.  

Note: Most insurance providers will fund replacement CPAP masks and accessories according to the intervals listed below. 

View Replacement Schedule 

• Air Filters: Every month  

• CPAP Mask System: Every 6 months  

• Water Chamber: Every 6 months  

• Tubing: Every 6 months  

• CPAP Machine: Every 5 years 

Daily cleaning: 

• CPAP Mask Pillow/Cushion and Frame: Wipe daily and clean Weekly. 

• Water Chamber: Empty remaining water daily and allow the water chamber to air dry. 

Weekly Cleaning 

1. Fill a clean sink with warm water and add a CPAP soal or mild liquid dish soap. Avoid solutions containing bleach, chlorine, alcohol, aromatics, moisturizers, antibacterial agents, or scented oils to clean. These solutions may damage and reduce product life.  

1. Let mask, tubing, and water chamber soak for approximately 10 minutes. 

1. Rinse with warm water until the water runs clear. 

1. Hang the hose to air dry in an area away from direct sunlight. You can also use a cloth to help with drying. While the inside of the hose may not dry completely, the end that connects to the CPAP machine must be fully dry before use. 

1. If deposits develop in the water chamber, despite continued use of distilled water, soak the chamber in a solution of 1 part vinegar, 10 parts water. 

Read more on our How to Clean Your CPAP Equipment blog 

This is first and foremost a symptom of a lack of humidity in the air delivered to your CPAP mask. To add more humidity (moisture) to the CPAP air flow, you will have to increase your heated humidifier setting. If you do not know or remember how to adjust your humidifier setting, please contact Resolve Sleep Health.  

If you have a dry mouth despite increasing your humidifier’s setting, it is possible that air is escaping from your mouth while you sleep. A chin strap or full face mask will usually solve this problem. However, we will be able to further advise you if this sounds like your situation. 

Yes, in most cases, but we always advise you to contact your provider for details. Read our guide on CPAP Coverage by Province in Canada – Resolve Sleep for details.