Last updated on July 7th, 2023 at 11:38 am
Many people struggle to have the recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night, the restorative rest the body needs. Often it is just put down to the stresses and strains of a hectic modern lifestyle, something we can do little about.
However, those who are having nights of constantly interrupted sleep, feeling fatigued during the day as a result, may in fact be suffering from a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnoea. It is estimated 1.5 million people in the UK alone could have this condition, of which only 330,000 have been diagnosed, allowing them to seek treatment.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)?
If you are a particularly heavy snorer you could have OSA. It is the most common form of the disorder sleep apnoea, whereby a person’s airway narrows when they are asleep, causing breathing difficulties. OSA affects people to different degrees, but it can cause someone to wake up around 100 times during the night. Heavy-set males are more at risk, as are people who suffer with diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.
Besides fatigue and heavy snoring, further symptoms of OSA include frequent morning headaches, chronic tiredness, a dry mouth and a tendency to sleep with the mouth open. Lack of sleep through OSA has serious detrimental effects on everyday life, effects which will cross over in to professional lives, too.
The Costs Associated with OSA
Anyone who experiences a bad night’s sleep will know the knock-on effect the following day. It is a struggle to operate to anywhere near your usual level, reducing your productivity levels both at home and at work. Now imagine this lack of sleep not just happening one night but every night. It is not difficult to then comprehend how this can quickly cost the workplace, let alone the strains it can place on relationships through snoring.
A study of 421 people found that of those diagnosed with OSA 95% were previously unaware of the condition. Like many people they will have just chalked it up to modern day life. Yet estimates reckon every employee suffering from OSA who has yet to be diagnosed and begun a treatment plan costs an additional £4,500 to the business in expenses.
The constant fatigue and associated lack of concentration and motivation hits an employee’s productivity. On top of that they become more at risk from injuries due to accidents in the workplace. The additional dangers from drowsiness when operating machinery or when driving lead to increased time off work and costs of repairs. Of course, they can also sadly lead to fatalities too.
Sufferers of OSA are three times more likely to have an accident at work, while their risk of an accident while driving doubles each mile travelled. Yet these are just the day to day risks. Left undiagnosed and therefore untreated, OSA sufferers also increase their risk to serious health conditions.
The Increased Health Risks of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Left untreated OSA can lead to an increased risk of serious health problems. These can include:
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Liver Problems
- Diabetes
- Depression
Statistics indicate untreated OSA can mean someone is 3.9 times more likely to have congestive heart failure, has a 1.6 times increase in their chance of having a stroke and a 40% increase in their risk of depression.
Such figures illustrate the cost to the individual. Yet they also equate to costs in terms of additional health care costs and also lost workplace productivity. The key to firstly identifying if you do suffer from OSA and then getting the right treatment is diagnosis.
In-Home Testing for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
There are two tests you can use in the comfort of your own home to see if you have OSA. One of these tests is called “overnight oximetry” and involves two consecutive nights where you sleep while wearing a cuff on one finger. Delivered to your home, the cuff is attached to a machine which records changes in oxygen levels in the blood.
The In-Home Sleep Test is an example, and after the test is completed you just return it to them, where NHS trained sleep specialists will analyse the results.
The In-Home test is convenient, requiring no time off work, are comfortable to perform, produce quick results and carried out in a discreet fashion.
Although such tests can be accessed through the NHS, those NHS tests can require a number of appointments, meaning time off work. Up to 30% of cases may need a more in-depth analysis, which will mean an overnight hospital stay with the NHS.
CPAP, a Leading Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Standing for continuous positive airway pressure, CPAP can help transform a person’s daily life and reduce their risk of serious health issues once OSA has been diagnosed. Although milder degrees of the sleep disorder may be treated through lifestyle changes such as weight loss and sleeping habit modifications, CPAP therapy remains a leading treatment plan.
CPAP involves using a machine which pushes air through a mask worn while sleeping, helping to keep the airways open through the night.
CPAP therapy machines are compact and easy to transport when away from home. The mask is a crucial part of the kit and you would need to have one that fits properly and you feel comfortable wearing each night. They are available in different materials and can cover the nose only, the mouth or both, depending on what best works for you. Modern CPAP machines are also accompanied by a humidifier with which you can set the temperature for the air, again helping your comfort levels.
Although the equipment can take getting used to, users of CPAP often experience the benefits instantly, with fatigue reduced and concentration and motivation improved. Millions of people use CPAP therapy each night to help improve their sleep and reduce the risk of the long-term serious health issues associated with OSA.
Cost Benefits of Treatments Like CPAP Therapy
Once diagnosed your doctor will be able to help you with the correct treatment plan, which could include prescribing CPAP therapy. If an employee is getting proper sleep with CPAP, a business can benefit from better productivity, less absenteeism and reduced chance of accidents. Partners at home will also be pleased with the reduction in snoring.
Health services also benefit from treatments such as CPAP. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK estimate cost savings of £1000 per person over 14 years of CPAP therapy, let alone the personal health improvements people experience.
NICE also highlighted CPAP as being a more cost-effective solution to other treatments they recommend. Alternative treatments for milder forms of OSA include positional therapy, oral appliance therapy, improved nutrition and weight loss programs.
Health services would also benefit in the reduced costs from traffic accidents caused by OSA. It is estimated a staggering 40,000 road accidents could be avoided each year if OSA sufferers were diagnosed and placed on treatment programs such as CPAP therapy, a figure which stresses the importance of not ignoring endless nights of interrupted sleep and getting tested for obstructive sleep apnoea. Not everyone who struggles to sleep or snores heavily will have OSA, but if diagnosed it is the first step to restoring a better lifestyle.
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