CPAP Direct, Australia’s largest independent provider of sleep apnea equipment, has arrived in Canberra with the opening of a large shop in Phillip.

STOCKED with a vast range of sleep apnea and CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) technology, CPAP Direct, in Townshend Street, Phillip, offers personalised service and care for managing sleep apnea.

Its services include how to have an in-home sleep study, CPAP machine hire and sales, travel CPAP and batteries and all of the advice and after-sale support needed, says owner Bryce Perron.

“Apnea means ‘without breath’ so sleep apnea is the stopping of breathing while someone is asleep,” he says.

“The person typically will not be aware of it happening, but as the muscles around the throat relax when someone is asleep, this can lead to snoring.

“However with sleep apnea, the airway closes completely which starves the brain of oxygen. Your body’s natural survival instincts pull you out of a deep sleep to a lighter sleep where the muscles can re-engage and you take a breath. Then you go back into a deeper sleep and the cycle repeats over and over again throughout the night. Our brand ambassador and cricket legend Merv Hughes stopped breathing 76 times per hour during his sleep study.

Bryce, who was diagnosed with sleep apnea more than 10 years ago, says there are many health and lifestyle implications of sleep apnea such as brain fog, fatigue and increased risk of serious illnesses such as diabetes, heart attack and stroke.

“For me, it was the fatigue and brain fog that I experienced, being in a constant cycle of bad quality sleep, I was wrecked!” he says.

Once Bryce received treatment in the form of a CPAP machine, his snoring stopped completely, he was able to achieve good quality sleep and he felt energised like never before.

Bryce says that he and his wife were motivated to buy their local CPAP Direct store on the Sunshine Coast in 2014 to help make a difference in people’s lives.

“We quickly realised that our competitors were not in touch with the patient experience and that we could do so much more to help,” he says.

“Having sleep apnea myself, I was able to give my first-hand experience of using the masks and machines.

“We want to make it a positive experience. People come to see us feeling grumpy, tired and their partners are about to send them to sleep in the spare room. It’s so rewarding when their quality of life and their relationships are improved!”

Now with 110 employees, 23 stores across Australia and a large partner network, Bryce says he is excited to open in Canberra which is operated by Taylaar and Marc who bring years of industry experience.

“We pride ourselves on being a family run, independent business. We provide excellent customer service, a price-match promise and we genuinely care about the results,” says Bryce.

Bryce says that CPAP Direct will work with people’s physicians to provide a sleep study, with independently analysed results and then find the right treatment and equipment for them.

Bryce says that Taylaar, Marc and the Canberra team are here to help: “If you or your partner feel like you may be affected by snoring or fatigue and want to know more, come and have a chat with us. Or if you already have a CPAP machine but you feel it’s not working as well, come and see our range of latest technology machines.”

CPAP Direct Canberra, Shop 3 & 4, 42 Townshend Street, Phillip. Call 6189 1256 or visit cpap.com.au