Although sleep apnoea may be confused with snoring, it is quite different. It is a sleep disorder where people cannot breathe normally while asleep. Instead, their sleep is disrupted, leaving them sleep-deprived and more at risk of serious health problems. Sleep apnoea is common, but it is frequently undiagnosed because many people are unaware they have these symptoms unless a sleeping partner hears them trying to struggle to breathe. Whereas most people breathe continuously and regularly during sleep, someone with sleep apnoea will take frequent pauses in breathing while still asleep, often for several seconds. These lapses in breathing reduce sleep quality, but the person affected will not fully awaken, so they may be unaware there nighttime breathing is not normal. Although the person might not awaken, these episodes prevent them from reaching deep, restful REM sleep.

Most people diagnosed with sleep apnoea have obstructive sleep apnoea or OSA. It occurs as the muscles in the throat relax when the sufferer goes to sleep, allowing the airway to collapse inward, so it becomes constricted or blocked. A person with OSA may snore loudly before their breathing stops entirely, only to restart with a loud gasp or snort.

Central sleep apnoea is less common, affecting fewer than 1% of people with sleep apnoea and is where the communication between the muscles controlling breathing and the brain is disrupted. Consequently, a person with central sleep apnoea may breathe shallowly or will temporarily stop breathing.

What Are the Signs of OSA?

OSA can cause various symptoms, including feeling excessively tired during the daytime, waking up with a headache or awakening with a dry mouth from breathing through your mouth. People with OSA tend to be more irritable and less able to focus because they feel continually tired. They may need to get up more frequently during the nighttime to urinate. One of the most frequent signs of OSA is loud snoring punctuated by periods where the person fails to breathe before restarting breathing with a choking or gasping sound. Sleeping partners or those sleeping nearby will often suffer from disrupted sleep as a consequence.

How Is Sleep Apnoea Diagnosed?

The most effective way for sleep apnoea to be diagnosed is with a sleep study, where your sleep is monitored overnight, either in a sleep clinic or at home, using a small portable device. The results of the study determine if you have sleep apnoea, its type and the degree of severity.

Treating Sleep Apnoea

The simplest way to treat mild to moderate sleep apnoea is with a custom-made oral device that we can make and fit for you. The device works by holding your lower jaw slightly forwards, which helps prevent your tongue from flopping backwards and helps to hold your airway open. The device is comfortable to wear, easy to use, and effective. Severe sleep apnoea may need treatment with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine that pumps a continuous stream of air into your airway through a mask that is worn during sleep. However, some people find this device awkward to use, in which case it is worth trying a custom-made oral device instead, that although it may not be quite as effective, will still provide some relief from sleep apnoea.