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Sleep Apnoea and Loud Snoring

Sleep apnoea is a serious condition that can affect your quality of sleep and your overall health. It causes your airway to temporarily close, stopping you from being able to breathe.

The first symptom of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is usually snoring. Snoring is caused by a narrowing of the airway, particularly at the back of the throat. If your airway narrows too much when you’re asleep, the air you breathe is then pulled through it faster. This causes the soft tissue in the back of your throat to dehydrate and vibrate. The sound you hear is what most people know as snoring.

In some cases, the airway becomes so narrow that the walls of the airway stick together and close up. This usually happens for 10-30 seconds but can occur for longer – sometimes up to 50 times an hour or even more. When the airway finally opens up again, you’ll produce a loud, violent snore. This is known as an apnoea. Sometimes the airway may not fully close, but becomes so narrow that you experience an oxygen drop in your blood. This is called a hypopnoea. Frequent apnoeas and hypopnoeas mean you most likely have OSA.

Throughout the night, your body will constantly ‘wake itself up’ to a lighter stage of sleep in order to breathe. This is why many people with OSA feel so tired the following day.

Sleep apnoea can affect people of any age or gender. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, being overweight, and a lack of exercise can all increase your sleep apnoea risk. Women are also at higher risk of sleep apnoea after the menopause.

Here are a few factors that can trigger sleep apnoea.

  • Being overweight. Excessive fat around the neck can put pressure on the airway, making it more difficult to breathe.
  • Being male. It’s unknown why, but sleep apnoea is more common in men than in women.
  • Being 40 years of age or over. Although sleep apnoea can occur at any age, it’s more common in people over the age of 40.
  • Alcohol. Drinking excessively can lead to weight gain, which significantly increases the risk of sleep apnoea.
  • Having a large neck. Having a collar size of 17 inches (43cm) increases the risk of developing sleep apnoea.
  • Smoking. Smoking increases the inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway which causes breathing difficulties.
  • Menopause. The changes in hormone levels during the menopause can cause your throat muscles to relax more than usual.
  • Family history. If sleep apnoea runs in the family, there may be genes inherited from your patents that can make you more susceptible to sleep apnoea.
  • Nasal congestion. Sleep apnoea occurs more often in people with nasal congestion.
Sleep Apnoea

It’s possible to suffer from sleep apnoea and never even suspect you have the condition. The symptoms are often spotted by a partner, friend or family member who notices problems while you sleep. Sleep apnoea can be complicated to diagnose. One of the main signs of the condition is loud snoring, but not every snorer has sleep apnoea.

When you experience an apnoea during sleep, you will usually snore continuously followed by a period of silence and then a loud snore or snort. Sometimes the airway may not fully close, but becomes so narrow that you experience an oxygen drop in your blood. This is called a hypopnoea. Hypopnoeas are harder to detect than apnoeas, but they can be recognised by persistent noisy or laboured breathing when asleep.

Signs of sleep apnoea when awake include:

  • Frequently waking up with a headache
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness (still feeling tired after 8 hours sleep)
  • Difficulty in concentrating
  • Lack of interest in sex
  • Irritability and mood swings
  • Depression

Signs of sleep apnoea when asleep include:

  • Excessive or loud snoring
  • Periods of laboured breathing
  • Gasping or choking during sleep
  • Frequent toilet trips during the night

OSA is a medical condition. This means that you don’t necessarily ‘have’ sleep apnoea until you get a medical diagnosis. You might experience the symptoms of sleep apnoea without them being enough to support a medical diagnosis. Either way, if you suspect that you have sleep apnoea, it’s a good idea to discuss this with your doctor.

Some severe forms of sleep apnoea can cause you to wake up or move out of a deep sleep hundreds of times a night without you even realising it’s happening. All forms of sleep apnoea mean that you are getting less oxygen circulating in your blood than your body needs.

There are also several serious medical conditions related to OSA. Evidence suggests that sleep apnoea can lead to high blood pressure. High blood pressure can increase your risk of serious medical conditions, such as heart disease and stroke. You can prevent high blood pressure by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet. You can also prevent high blood pressure by using the appropriate treatment for your sleep apnoea.

OSA has also been linked to increasing your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a condition that causes a person’s blood sugar (glucose) level to become too high. Sleep apnoea can cause your body to become less able to break down glucose properly, making it really important to find the right treatment for your sleep apnoea.

You need to tell your state road authority if you have:

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnoea which affects your ability to drive safely
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnoea syndrome

Lifestyle changes

If you’re diagnosed with OSA, your doctor will advise you to make some healthy lifestyle changes. The following could result in a significant improvement in your condition:

  • Losing weight
  • Stopping smoking
  • Getting more exercise
  • Reducing your alcohol intake
  • Avoiding certain medications (such as sedatives)

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

If you’re diagnosed with OSA in Australia, the NICE-approved treatment through the NHS is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). You will be issued with a CPAP machine and mask like the one pictured below.

CPAP works by increasing the air pressure in your upper airway and throat.  This helps to make sure your airway does not collapse so that you can breathe normally.

Many people find CPAP uncomfortable, inconvenient to use, and hard to get along with. Studies show that up to 60% of patients abandon CPAP, and many stop treatment. If you’re currently using a CPAP machine, but find it difficult to tolerate, it can be dangerous to stop your treatment. You should speak to your doctor to see what options are available for you to treat your sleep apnoea without CPAP.

Oral Devices / Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs)

Another common treatment option for OSA is an Oral Device.  They are sometimes called mandibular advancement devices, snoring mouthpieces, or snoring mouth guards. These devices are similar to gum shields, and they work by holding your jaw forward (or simply stopping it from falling backwards) during sleep. This helps to keep your airway open, stopping it from collapsing during the night and helping you to breathe easily and quietly.

Clinical studies show that Oral Devices are as effective as CPAP in treating mild-to-moderate sleep apnoea.

Mild/moderate OSA

If you have mild sleep apnoea, you can treat it by making lifestyle changes and using a mouthpiece like the SleepDoctor Oral Device.  These mouthpieces work by holding your jaw forward or stopping it from falling back during sleep. This helps to prevent your airway from narrowing and collapsing, so you don’t stop breathing in your sleep. You can find out more about how the SleepDoctor Oral Device treats mild-to-moderate sleep apnoea by clicking here.

Severe OSA

If your sleep apnoea is severe, the best treatment for you will most likely be a CPAP machine (although some people find that an oral device still works for them, or works well in combination with CPAP). Your doctor will be able to advise you on the best way to manage your sleep apnoea.

Many people find CPAP uncomfortable, inconvenient to use, and hard to get along with. Studies show that up to 60% of patients abandon CPAP, and many stop treatment. If you’re currently using a CPAP machine, but find it difficult to tolerate, it can be dangerous to stop your treatment. You should speak to your doctor to see what options are available for you to treat your sleep apnoea without CPAP.

Oral Devices / Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs)

Another common treatment option for OSA is an Oral Device.  They are sometimes called mandibular advancement devices, snoring mouthpieces, or snoring mouth guards. These devices are similar to gum shields, and they work by holding your jaw forward (or simply stopping it from falling backwards) during sleep. This helps to keep your airway open, stopping it from collapsing during the night and helping you to breathe easily and quietly.

Clinical studies show that Oral Devices are as effective as CPAP in treating mild-to-moderate sleep apnoea.

This is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition

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