Sleep Apnoea- understanding this common sleep disorder

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea or OSA (pronounced ” sleep apnia”, and spelt “sleep apnea” in the U.S) is a breathing condition that affects people when they sleep. It’s common – as many as 4 in 5 cases are undiagnosed! Relatives of people who have the condition are at greater risk, as are people who are above their target weight. Sufferers stop breathing for a while and their oxygen levels drop. It can affect people of any age and usually leads to disrupted unrefreshing sleep – people with sleep apnoea end up feeling tired and lacking concentration. Road traffic accidents are commoner in sufferers as a result.

Co-sleepers (wife/husband/partner) will often describe episodes of breath-holding followed by gasping or choking. They also usually complain that the sufferer is a snorer. Children with sleep apnoea aren’t always as tired as adults with sleep apnoea. They tend to snore or breathe loudly when asleep, sometimes they’ll start wetting the bed where previously they did not, often they’ll sleep more upright or with their neck extended, sometimes they complain of headaches and sometimes they have learning or behavioural disorders. They may be overweight or underweight.

Management of OSA often involves use of a C-PAP (Continuous Positive Airways Pressure) machine or certain oral appliances to depress the tongue. Other approaches include weight-loss, quitting smoking, and avoiding night sedatives including alcohol and sleeping tablets. Some people end up needing operations if appropriate – for example tonsillectomy. Successfully treated patients tend to report considerable improvement in their tiredness and increase in their quality of life.