Sleep apnoea has been linked to:

• Being overweight
• Having a large neck or a small airway
• Nasal polyps
• Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
• Having large tonsils or a large tongue
• Sleeping on your back
• Your age: middle-aged men and post-menopausal women are more susceptible to sleep apnoea
• Family members who also have the condition

It can be hard to tell whether you have the symptoms of sleep apnoea, so you should ask someone to stay with you and check for symptoms while you’re asleep. They may notice that you:

• Stop and start your breathing
• Make choking or gasping noises as if you’re struggling to breathe
• Snore a lot
• Wake up frequently throughout the night

Some of the waking symptoms include:

• Feeling tired or exhausted
• Headache upon waking
• Finding it difficult to concentrate
• Mood swings
• Gastrointestinal conditions such as heartburn

If you experience any of these symptoms regularly, you should make an appointment to see your GP.

Your GP will ask you about your symptoms and medical history. Depending on how severe your sleep apnoea is, they may refer you to a specialist sleep clinic for tests.

A home sleep study (or respiratory polygraphy) is a non-invasive test for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). It can tell whether you stop breathing or snore, and your oxygen levels and heart rate while you’re asleep.

Yes, sleep apnoea can be treated.

If you’ve been diagnosed with mild sleep apnoea, there are some things you can do to relieve the symptoms:

• Stop smoking if you’re a regular smoker
• Don’t drink too much alcohol before you go to bed
• Avoid taking sleeping pills (unless your GP has prescribed them) as they can make your sleep apnoea worse
• Lose weight if you’re overweight
• Keep active
• Sleep on your side – you can buy a special pillow which stops you from rolling onto your back or front

If it is of moderate to severe severity the treatment of choice is CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy. CPAP is positive airway pressure to try and stent open your upper airway to prevent it from collapsing.

In the vast majority of people, this is the gold standard of treatment.

There are, of course, alternative treatments such as a mandibular advancement device which simply speaking is a gum shield to try and thrust your lower jaw forward. This prevents the collapse of the upper airways.

There are other surgical treatments available as well, such as hypoglossal nerve stimulation.  These involve placing a pacemaker in your chest with wires going onto your hypoglossal muscle, which essentially gives constant shocks to prevent it from collapsing.

However, in the vast majority of cases CPAP therapy remains the first line of treatment.

Without treatment, sleep apnoea can lead to more serious conditions, such as:

• High blood pressure or a higher risk of stroke
• Diabetes
• Depression or severe mood swings
• Risk of an accident caused by a lack of sleep and reduced concentration

It can affect your daily life, including work and relationships with others.

Our experienced Consultants in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine can provide diagnosis and initial care for sleep apnoea.