Sleep Apnoea

Symptoms of OSA and CSA can be similar, making them difficult to tell apart. Generally, the most common sleep apnoea symptoms include:

• snoring loudly 

• making gasping, snorting, or choking noises when you’re asleep

• waking up with a dry mouth

• waking up with a headache or developing a headache in the morning

• insomnia

• feeling very sleepy during the day

• difficult concentrating

• irritability and/or mood swings

Sleep apnoea versus snoring

You may be wondering if you have sleep apnoea or straightforward snoring. 

Snoring is the sound of partial airway obstruction, while sleep apnoea is a more serious condition which is characterised by repeated pauses in your breathing during sleep. 

If you have sleep apnoea, your snoring may be so loud that it can be heard in another room, and your partner will notice pauses in your breathing while you sleep. 

Many patients with sleep apnoea will feel exhausted during the day, whereas for patients who snore, it’s the sleep quality of their partner that suffers.

All 3 types of the condition are caused by a narrowing of your airways, which in turn stops you from breathing normally while you sleep. 

OSA and CSA risk factors 

Sleep apnoea can affect anyone. However, certain factors increase your risk of developing OSA and CSA. These include:

• being an older adult

• being male

• a family history of the condition

• being obese

• having a large or thick neck

• having a narrow throat

• smoking

• drinking alcohol

• using sedatives or tranquilisers

• experiencing nasal congestion

• having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

• having a chronic lung disease, such as asthma

• having a heart disorder 

• having had a stroke

If you’re experiencing sleep issues, the first step is to have an initial consultation. Your specialist will ask you to talk through your medical history and symptoms, and they may conduct a physical examination. They’ll also run some blood tests to help them rule out other conditions. 

Your specialist will let you know if you’re suitable for an at-home overnight sleep study to be taken in the comfort of your own home for 1 night. This may include a study with a SUNRISE device, a NOX T3 study, or a polysomnography study. Your consultant will advise on the appropriate study for you based on your symptoms.

Your results will then be analysed within 48 hours. The results of your blood tests and overnight sleep study will be put into a report, and a respiratory sleep specialist will talk through the findings in detail with you. In some cases, further tests are needed to confirm a diagnosis.

When your diagnosis has been confirmed, your specialist will recommend the best treatment options for you.

It’s not possible to prevent sleep apnoea, and it’s important that you receive medical treatment for the condition. However, there are some additional lifestyle tips you can try to ease your symptoms:

• maintain a healthy weight

• exercise regularly

• stop taking sleeping medications

• limit or avoid alcohol

• sleep on your front or your side

• stop smoking if you smoke

Sleep apnoea is a serious condition that can cause potentially life-threatening health problems if left untreated. It can increase your risk of developing other serious conditions, including: 

• stroke

• heart failure

• high blood pressure

• diabetes

• metabolic syndrome

• liver problems

Your treatment options will depend on the type of sleep apnoea you have and how severe your condition is.

The gold standard treatment for OSA is the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This is a mask that’s connected to a machine that blows air through your nostrils and/or mouth throughout the night, keeping your airways open and your snoring at a minimum.

There’s also the option for nasal and throat surgical sleep treatments for OSA. Your specialists will tell you if this is a suitable option for you. 

If you have CSA, your options may include medication or using a device to deliver oxygen to your lungs as you sleep.

If any other medical issues have been identified during your tests, you’ll be referred to the appropriate team and be put in touch with a specialist who can help you treat them.

At Welbeck, our sleep specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.