Reading descriptions of sleep apnoea, or sleep apnea, is terrifying.
The condition causes sufferers to nearly or completely stop breathing when they’re unconscious. It can sometimes occur many times within an hour.
Sleep apnoea sufferers will gasp themselves awake during the night, but often have no recollection of it come the morning. A telltale sign will be daytime fatigue, which will be confusing if they believe they’ve got their full eight hours of kip.
Endless studies have proved that being deprived of quality sleep is catastrophic for a person’s health and mental well-being, affecting everything from mood and weight to concentration.
Most people with sleep apnoea don’t even know that they have it, especially if they sleep solo. While weary partners are jolted awake by their bedfellow’s laboured breathing and sudden gasping in the wee hours, single people will be largely unaware if they have the same nocturnal behaviour.
According to Google Trends, sleep apnoea is the most common sleep issue in the UK with an average of 147,253 Google searches each month, submitted mostly in the early hours from, we assume, sleep-deprived partners rapidly reaching the end of their tether. According to the UK's patient support charity the Sleep Apnoea Trust, 13 per cent of men and 6 per cent of women in the 30-75 age bracket have the condition, meaning it affects around ten million people in the UK.
How big an issue is sleep apnea? What can happen if severe cases go undiagnosed? And can anything be done to prevent the sleep disorder? We spoke to three medical professionals for the answers and ways to help.
What causes sleep apnoea?
Professor Esther Rodriguez Villegas from Imperial College London explains that the condition occurs “often because the muscles in the mouth, nose and throat relax and cause the airway to narrow or close altogether; when this happens, it’s called obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). OSA affects up to 23 per cent of the adult population and five per cent of children, but most people don’t know they have it.”
Another type of sleep apnoea is called central sleep apnoea, Professor Rodriguez says. “This is less common and is characterised by a lack of drive to breathe while someone is asleep. In other words, the brain briefly fails to send the necessary signals to the muscles that control breathing.”
She goes on to say that it’s not just decent kip that’s impacted with sleep apnoea; it puts a strain on the cardiorespiratory system too, which “can lead to serious health implications if left untreated”.
How concerning is it?
Failing to breathe for extended periods - more than 10 seconds at a time, and more than five times in an hour, according to John Hopkins Medicine - is bad news by any measure.
Professor Rodriguez explains untreated sleep apnoea can leave patients more likely to develop “life-threatening comorbidities [which are multiple chronic conditions or diseases at once], such as diabetes, and cardiovascular issues, including high blood pressure and strokes, to name a few. It is well documented that untreated sleep apnoea drastically increases the incidence of road collisions, and the lack of regular healthy sleep can also cause depression or anxiety.”
It’s not just a case of a dwindling quality of life; it can reduce your lifespan too. Prof Rodriguez warns that “in extreme cases, untreated severe sleep apnoea can increase the chances of sudden unexpected death, most often due to its impact on the body’s cardiovascular function.
“It can also, though very rarely, cause death due to the inability to resume breathing during the night. This is more likely to happen with central sleep apnoea.”
A sobering thought if there ever was to get suspected cases checked out ASAP.
How can you tell if you have sleep apnoea?
The Sleep Apnoea Trust has a sleep apnoea recording on its homepage to compare it with regular snoring. The portal also offers online tests to complete and take to GPs, asking them for NHS Sleep Clinic referrals if necessary.
Meanwhile, Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy points out that the British Lung Foundation has created an OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnoea) Toolkit to raise awareness of the condition, which is becoming a burden on the health service. She says “Recognising and diagnosing OSA can be life-changing. So often, people don’t realise why they’ve been feeling so groggy and unwell for so long, and once they are diagnosed with OSA, and start effective treatment such as CPAP, their lives are transformed.”
Then there’s the AcuPebble Device, created by Prof Rodriguez, founder of medtech company Acurable. The gadget is a trailblazing, non-invasive device that can detect sleep apnoea without hooking up patients to wires in a sterile clinic. It can be used at home easily and sends healthcare professionals a full diagnosis report within minutes.
Who is most likely to develop it?
Anyone can develop sleep apnoea, even babies and children, although cases are far lower than in adults. Some factors are more likely to see a person have the condition, which Dr Lee details: “It is more common in men, in the under 50s, and in people of Black, Asian or Hispanic origin.
OSA is common in those who are overweight or obese, but even thin people can have the condition. It is linked to smoking, excess alcohol and gastric reflux. Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) can also result in OSA. OSA is common in children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids.”
How can you prevent sleep apnoea?
GP and Aesthetic Doctor Dr Chandni Rajani outlines the basic plan of action: “Preventing sleep apnoea starts with maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise, as obesity is a significant contributor to the condition. Using a humidifier, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption can also potentially help.
“Additionally, avoiding sleeping on your back can reduce the risk of airway obstruction during sleep. Treating nasal congestion and practising good sleep hygiene, such as establishing a regular sleep schedule and creating a comfortable sleep environment, are also important preventive measures.”
What products can help overcome sleep apnea?
As mentioned, CPAP machines can help. Short for continuous positive airway pressure, Dr Lee explains it involves "sleeping with a mask attached to a machine that constantly pumps air into your airways, holding them open even while you sleep."
It’s an extreme treatment towards the end of the list of options for many, especially when there are easier alternatives, like losing weight. Dr Lee says that losing just 10 per cent of your body weight can be effective.
If you suspect you or someone you love has sleep apnoea, the first step is to get a proper diagnosis from a qualified health professional. Here are a few websites to help.
Sleep Apnoea Support
- British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association
- The NHS
- NHS Guy’s & St. Thomas’ Sleep Disorder Centre
- The Sleep Charity
- British Lung Foundation
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