Sleep Apnoea

Sleep apnoea is a condition in which a person experiences episodes in which they stop breathing for short periods throughout the night. There are many different types of sleep apnoea, but the most common is obstructive sleep apnoea and is commonly associated with snoring.
Some of the most common symptoms of sleep apnoea include:
- Excessive sleep during the day
- Morning headaches
- Sweating during the night
- Difficulty concentrating throughout the day
- High blood pressure
- Loud Snoring
Many people with sleep apnoea have also reported that they have problems with memory, frequent urination during the night (nocturia), and feelings of depression.
What causes sleep apnoea?
Sleep apnoea occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax too much. When this happens, your airways become more narrow, resulting in a reduction of oxygen that you breathe in. Due to the decrease of oxygen in your blood, the brain is made aware of your impaired ability to breathe and briefly awakens you enough to reopen your airway.
Although most people don’t even recall waking up due to how brief the episodes are, the quality of sleep is severely affected. Poor quality of sleep often results in feeling fatigued and tired throughout the day.
How to treat sleep apnoea
Given that the primary goal of treatment for sleep apnoea is to remedy the restricted airflow during the night, there are many treatment options. Some of these options include:
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Whether you have moderate or severe sleep apnoea, a CPAP machine has been proven to improve breathing throughout the night due to the extra pressure that allows for less restricted breathing.
Nasal Decongestants
Nasal decongestants are known to relieve snoring. However, they’re most effective in more mild cases of sleep apnoea.
Positional Therapy
Positional therapy is a method in which patients learn how to sleep in positions that will inhibit or improve sleep apnoea.