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Obstructive sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts while you are asleep. This happens because the muscles in the back of your throat relax and block your airway. "Apnoea" is the medical term for a pause in breathing.
read more about obstructive sleep apnoea ...This condition occurs when the muscles that support the soft tissues in your throat, like your tongue and soft palate, relax too much during sleep. This causes the airway to become narrow or close, and you cannot get enough air. Being overweight, getting older, and having large tonsils can all increase your risk.
The most common symptoms are loud snoring, waking up gasping or choking, and feeling very sleepy during the day. A partner is often the first to notice the breathing pauses. Other signs include waking up with a dry mouth, morning headaches, and having trouble paying attention.
A doctor will ask about your sleep and symptoms. The main way to diagnose sleep apnoea is with a sleep study, also called a polysomnography. This test records your breathing, oxygen levels, and heart rate while you sleep. This study can sometimes be done at home or in a special sleep center.
Treatment depends on how bad the apnoea is. For mild cases, lifestyle changes like losing weight may help. The most common treatment is a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. This machine uses a mask to gently blow air into your airway to keep it open while you sleep. Other options include special mouthguards or, in some cases, surgery.
If it is not treated, sleep apnoea can cause serious problems. The repeated stops in breathing lower the oxygen in your blood and put a lot of strain on your heart. This can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. The daytime sleepiness it causes also raises the risk of car accidents.
Is sleep apnoea just bad snoring?
No. Snoring is the sound of air vibrating in a narrow airway. Sleep apnoea is when the airway becomes fully blocked and you actually stop breathing. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnoea, but it is a major warning sign.
Can sleep apnoea be cured?
For some people, losing a large amount of weight can cure the condition. For others, it is a long-term problem that must be managed with a treatment like CPAP to stay healthy.
Is a CPAP machine hard to use?
It can take some time to get used to wearing the mask. However, modern machines are very quiet and have comfortable mask options. Most people find that the improvement in their sleep and energy is worth the adjustment period.
You should see a doctor if you have symptoms of sleep apnoea. See a doctor right away if you snore loudly enough to bother others, feel very tired during the day, or if someone tells you that you stop breathing in your sleep. This is a medical condition that can be treated.