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Sleep Apnoea is a condition in which a person stops breathing during sleep. It can be classified as one of three types:
- OBSTRUCTIVE Sleep Apnoea (OSA)
OSA is the most common type of sleep apnoea. This is where the muscles at the back of the throat become so relaxed that the airway collapses and air is momentarily blocked from entering the lungs. The body signals that there is a lack of oxygen and jolts you awake to kick start your breathing (usually with a loud snort or gasp). Then you begin the sleep cycle again, often unaware that you have even woken. This can happen hundreds of times a night.
- CENTRAL Sleep Apnoea
This is where the brain does not signal the chest muscles to work during sleep and breathing stops.
- MIXED Sleep Apnoea
This type of sleep apnoea is the most complex to treat. It is a combination of both Central and Obstructive where the brain periodically fails to trigger breathing and when the sleeper does try to breathe, they can’t because the upper airway has collapsed.
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OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnoea) occurs when the upper airway repeatedly occludes during sleep, causing cessation of breathing (apnoea) or a reduction in flow (hypopnea) and sleep disturbance as a result.
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When the airway becomes obstructed and breathing stops during sleep, you are being momentarily deprived of oxygen. The sudden drop in oxygen levels is known as hypoxia. As the body is still functioning there is also a dramatic increase in carbon dioxide levels in the blood. The body tries to protect itself from harm by making the heart work harder to move the remaining oxygenated blood through your system. Therefore your heart rate increases. As a result, the body is woken from its sleeping state (called an arousal) to the point where normal breathing starts again and the cycle repeats. Sleep apnoea can cause:
- High blood pressure
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Impotence
- Irregular heartbeat
- Heart disease
The condition is most common in men, individuals who are overweight and quite commonly but not all, snorers. The older you are, the greater your chances of becoming affected by sleep apnoea.
Symptoms can often go unnoticed for a long time because they are not specific during the day and at night, the sleeper may not even realise that he or she is waking up to resume breathing. Symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe and may include:
- Daytime sleepiness and fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Poor memory
- Personality changes
- Depression
- Morning headaches
- Dry mouth when you wake up
- Sore or dry throat
- Frequent night time urination
- Waking several times during the night
- Unexplained heart or respiratory failure
- Chest retraction (sunken chest) – seen in children suffering from sleep apnoea
- Irritability
- Excessive perspiring during sleep
- Reduced libido
- Rapid weight gain
Sleep apnoea may be life threatening if left untreated. You should see your doctor immediately if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms or please refer to our Professional Help page. |
What is Sleep Apnoea ?