Sleep Apnoea
Sleep apnoea (also spelt apnea) is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. It can affect anyone at any age including children.
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)
This is the most common of the apnoea’s and is caused by physical obstructions (large tonsils and/or adenoids, large tongue, floppy soft palate etc) which mean the airways become blocked and leads to regularly interrupted sleep.
Central Sleep Apnoea (CSA)
It is not as common as OSA and instead of the airway becoming blocked, the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe due to instability in the respiratory control centre.
Symptoms of sleep apnoea:
- Waking up with a very sore or dry throat
- Loud snoring
- Occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation
- Excessive sleepiness or lack of energy during the day
- Sleepiness while driving
- Morning headaches
- Restless sleep
- Forgetfulness, mood changes, and a decreased interest in sex
- Recurrent awakenings or insomnia
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms, visit your GP who can refer you for a sleep apnoea test
Risk factors of sleep apnoea include:
- Being male
- Being overweight
- Being over age 40 - risk increases with age
- Having a large neck size
- Having large tonsils, a large tongue, or a small jaw bone
- Drinking alcohol, smoking or taking sedative medications particularly before bedtime
- Having a family history of sleep apnoea
- Gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD
- Nasal congestion
If left untreated, sleep apnoea can have a significant impact on quality of life and health, increasing the risk of developing of certain conditions such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Treatment of sleep apnoea:
Treatment for OSA can include lifestyle changes i.e. weight loss, quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol.
The most common treatment is a CPAP machine.
CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.
- You wear a mask over your nose or mouth while you sleep
- The machine blows gentle air to keep your airway open
- This helps you breathe normally all night
It can take time to get used to, but it is very effective.
Mouth devices
Some people can use a mouth guard (oral device).
- It is worn like a gum shield at night
- It helps keep the airway open by moving the jaw slightly forward
This is often used for mild to moderate sleep apnoea.
Surgery
In some cases, surgery may be offered.
This may remove or reduce tissue that blocks the airway.
Surgery is usually only considered if other treatments have not worked.
For more information about causes, diagnosis and treatment, visit Hope2Sleep or The Sleep Apnoea Trust
Quick Guide
A quick guide to obstructive sleep apnoea
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