How Can I Tell if I Have Sleep Apnoea?
Sleep apnoea is a widely recognised condition which can have serious health consequences.
It can occur at any age but it’s prevalence increases with age. About 20% of people aged over 60 have obstructive sleep apnoea.
Untreated sleep apnoea has significant health implications. Knowing you suffer from it is the first step to having it treated.
Unfortunately, many people don’t know what signs to look for. There are a number of symptoms, which may be present on their own or with others.
Personal Symptoms
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), is basically sleep interrupted by collapse of the upper during sleep, causing cessation of breathing.
This causes you to wake up, at least partially. You may not remember waking up.
However, every time your breathing is interrupted, your oxygen levels may drop, sometimes enough to cause negative effects on body organs.
You may experience the apnoea (cessation of breathing) as gasping or choke during sleep. Again, you may not remember this; as the arousal from sleep is very short.
However, sleep does become fragmented, which is why you may feel unrefreshed on waking, and tired and sleepy during the day.
Other People
If you sleep alone, the above could be signs that you have sleep apnoea. If you don’t, it may be other people who tell you about it.
One of the most common signs of the condition is snoring. Most of us snore at some point during sleep, but obstructive sleep apnoea causes loud snoring, often disturbing others.
Another thing anyone sleeping next to you may notice is that you stop breathing. This can be quite alarming for partners of people with obstructive sleep apnoea.
Pauses in breathing can last from a few seconds to over a minute.
Something else a sleeping partner may notice is restless sleep or abnormal behaviour during sleep. T
his could take the form of acting out dreams, nightmares or night terrors, and sometimes even sleepwalking.
If this behaviour happens frequently, it could well be because of obstructive sleep apnoea.
Learn More
To learn more about sleep apnoea, its symptoms and what to do about it, call us at Breathe Well on 07 3193 5402. Alternatively, you can contact us on our contact us page.
For more information on sleep disorders, view our sleep disorders page here.
Thanks for mentioning how interrupted breathing can cause your oxygen levels to drop which can damage your body’s organs. My wife has been waking up in the middle of the night and often gasps for breath due to her breathing problems, and I’d like to make sure that she will be able to sleep soundly when I am on a business trip and cannot help her regulate her breathing patterns. Maybe I should find a device that can help us better control her ability to sleep.
ReplyYour wife needs to have a sleep study, to see if she has sleep apnoea and if she does will require a CPAP machine or mandibular advancement splint. CPAP will be better if she has other breathing problems. In the meantime you can try getting her to sleep on her side (instead of her back) when sleep apnoea tends to be less problematic
ReplyYour wife needs to have a sleep study to see if she suffers from obstructive sleep apnoea. This can cause gasping in the middle of the night, and may worsen underlying breathing problems. She needs a sleep study to exclude obstructive sleep apnoea, and if confirmed, she would be best using a CPAP machine. Referral forms for a sleep study can be found at
Replyhttps://redlandsspecialistcentre.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Sleep-Study-Referral-Form-.pdf
Thank you for explaining that other people can often tell you if they suspect you have sleep apnea. I’ve been wondering if my husband might have it since I’ve noticed some problems over the last few months. I’ll be sure to mention it to him and see if we can schedule a sleep study to get it checked out.
ReplyI read some studies about VineHealth Center natural COPD herbal treatment and its effect on Emphysema, Asthma and Bronchitis. I immediately started on the treatment program and within few months I noticed very good improvements, I noticed I could breath better and had more energy. My constant wheezing and chest tightness had stopped too. My COPD is now well under control. (Vi sit vinehealthcenter. c om)
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