What is sleep apnoea?

Sleep Apnoea is when you stop breathing during sleep. The sleep Apnoea which occurs in snorers is called obstructive sleep Apnoea because the throat actually blocks while you are sleeping. Sufferers can be seen to be struggling for air and tend to wake with a loud grunt or snort. Sometimes they actually hear their own snoring and if a snorer is waking himself up at night, it is often because of sleep Apnoea.

Is snoring related to sleep apnoea?

Sleep Apnoea and snoring are part of the same condition. Bad snorers tend to develop sleep Apnoea. The five important factors in snoring also apply to sleep Apnoea. However, occasional stopping of breathing during sleep is not unusual. This can happen up to four times an hour and not be important, but if it is happening regularly and causing sleep disturbance and tiredness, it may well be significant.

What should you do before seeing Mr Khatwa about snoring?

If you are overweight for your height, you should set about losing the weight. If you go and see Mr Khatwa about snoring and you are overweight, the first advice you will receive is to lose weight.

If you drink any alcohol, consider the amount you drink and the effect it has on your snoring. Try avoiding alcohol and noting the effect it has on your snoring.

If you smoke, consider giving this up and expecting a benefit. Please be aware that stopping smoking does not result in weight gain.

What are the treatment Options for Sleep Apnoea?

Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder in which breathing is interrupted during sleep. This can lead to a number of health problems, including fatigue, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

There are a number of treatment options for sleep apnoea, depending on the severity of the condition and the individual's preferences. The most common treatment options include:

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP): CPAP is the most effective treatment for sleep apnoea. It involves wearing a mask over the nose or mouth while sleeping. The mask is connected to a machine that delivers pressurized air to keep the airways open.
• Auto-adjusting positive airway pressure (APAP): APAP is similar to CPAP, but the machine automatically adjusts the air pressure to meet the individual's needs throughout the night.
• Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP): BiPAP is a type of CPAP that delivers two different levels of air pressure: one for inhalation and one for exhalation. This can be helpful for people who find CPAP to be uncomfortable or who have other medical conditions, such as heart failure.
• Oral appliances: Oral appliances are devices that are worn in the mouth while sleeping to keep the airways open. They are often less cumbersome than CPAP and BiPAP machines, but they may not be as effective.
• Surgery: Surgery may be an option for people with severe sleep apnoea that does not respond to other treatments. There are a number of different surgical procedures that can be performed to improve breathing during sleep.

If you think you may have a sleep apnoea, get in touch with us so we can diagnose your condition and develop a treatment plan that is right for you.