Last updated on July 7th, 2023 at 01:50 pm
When is comes to writing blog posts, sometimes it can’t hurt to strip things back to basic, and talk about the central topic in hand!
What is Sleep Apnoea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is when apnoeas (breathing pauses) and hyponoeas (breathing restrictions) repeatedly occur as your upper airway becomes obstructed. This is due to the relaxing muscles and the subsequent collapse of the tissue surrounding the passageway. Generally preceded by snoring, these pauses and reductions in airflow are often followed by a gasping/choking sound as the brain reacts to the oxygen drop by momentarily waking you from your sleep. This can happen up to one hundred times every hour.
The whole process then repeats regularly as the person drifts off into a deeper sleep only to be aroused again soon after having another apnoea event. The individual is usually completely unaware of all this; rarely do they completely wake up but merely return to a lighter level of sleep. They then wake up still tired, having had little or no quality sleep.
- Loud snoring
- Episodes of interrupted breathing
- Noisy and laboured breathing, often interrupted by gasping and snorting
- Tiredness
- Waking up with a sore/dry throat
- Poor memory and concentration
- Headaches
- Irritability and short temper
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Lack of interest in sex
- In men, impotence (inability to get or maintain an erection)
- Frequent visits to the toilet throughout the night
What can you do if you think you could have Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?
If you believe you could have OSA, then do not hesitate to find help and support.
The most common and effective form of treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, is CPAP therapy, which stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. It is used by millions of people worldwide, who find it to be a life-changing treatment for their condition. Treatment is available on the NHS, however there are significant month-long waiting times associated with receiving the treatment this way. Alternatively, you can opt to seek help privately, where you can receive treatment quickly and conveniently.