Most people snore at certain stages of sleep, ie: on their back, if very tired or after a few drinks.
During normal sleep, the muscles that control the tongue and soft palate hold the airway open. If these muscles relax, the airway will become narrower, slightly blocking the passage. As you breathe in, the soft or floppy part of the throat vibrates and the noise of snoring results.
On some people the muscles relax too much, the airway can become partially or completely blocked, preventing breathing. When this happens repeatedly over the night, it is known as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) Syndrome.
The partial or total blockage may last anywhere from ten seconds to two minutes.
During this time, the brain experiences a lack of oxygen, and alerts the body to wake up in order to open the airway and breathe again. Although the person is normally not aware of it, this cycle can occur several hundred times during the night, severely disturbing sleep.
What’s the difference between snoring and sleep apnoea?
Snoring is caused when the soft tissue in your throat and upper airway vibrates, making the sounds we know as snoring. Sleep apnoea occurs when the soft tissue in your throat actually cuts off the supply of air. This form of sleep apnoea is called Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA). Severe snoring is almost always accompanied by a degree of OSA or develops into OSA later in life, especially if body weight increases.
What Causes Sleep Apnoea?
Some people are more prone than others. The factors that cause or worsen throat narrowing during sleep, include:
• Excess body weight.
• Alcohol/Sleeping pills/muscle relaxants.
How Common is OSA?
OSA is a very common type of sleep disorder. It can affect people of any age, from newborns to elderly adults. Some studies have shown that about nine percent of women and twenty four percent of men have OSA. The percentage of people who have a severity of OSA that would greatly benefit from treatment are:
10 - 15% Adult Men
5 – 7.5% Adult Women
1-4% Children
How can I tell if someone has OSA?
Do you or any of your family have any of theses symptoms?
• Loud snoring – Complaints by family, or do you wake yourself up snoring?
• Fall asleep easily when seated such as watching television.
• Falling asleep/lack of concentration when driving.
• Partner or family member notices you stop breathing in your sleep.
The Serious Medical and Lifestyle Complications of Sleep Apnoea
• Increased risk of arterial hypertension (high blood pressure).
• Increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
• Forced to sleep in the spare room.
• Relationship break-ups due to snoring, lethargy and the various emotional instabilities that commonly result from seriously impaired sleep.
• Forced to sleep on the other side of the camp site. – Remember your mates are less sympathetic that your long suffering partner.
• For very severe sleep apnoea patients some studies have shown that the if left untreated death occurs an average of eight years from onset.
• Weight gain from slow metabolism, exacerbated by fatigue.
• Nine fold increase in motor vehicle accident risk.
• Fatigue related depression.
Don’t delay arrange to have a free sleep study. – Click here for details and GP referral form.
A sleep study needs to be ordered by your physician to assist in diagnosis of OSA.
However, there are many signs and symptoms that you may want to look for.
Typical OSA can usually be seen while a person sleeps.
An OSA event may be heard as snoring followed by a period of silence that is then broken by a loud snort or gasp. The person will usually breath more heavily afterward.
Symptoms of OSA include daytime sleepiness and irregular or restless sleep. Headaches and morning nausea may also occur.
How is OSA treated?
The most common treatment of OSA is CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy, pronounced “see-pap”. It is effective in almost all cases. CPAP provides light air pressure to hold the airway open, and as a result, allows uninterrupted sleep throughout the night. Normally, the air is delivered through a small mask worn over the nose, or nose and mouth during sleep. There are many different types of masks, and finding the most comfortable one is very important.
Other methods used to treat OSA may include surgery and dental devices. If you wish, you may discuss these other methods with your doctor.
In some people lifestyle changes are enough to control snoring and possibly OSA. Recommended changes include losing excess weight, quitting smoking, and avoiding alcohol or sedatives in the evening.
Why is OSA treated?
There are two main consequences of OSA.
The first is excessive sleepiness during the day. This can lead to decreased attentiveness which can affect the ability to work, socialise, operate machinery, or drive automobiles safely. It is often difficult to do extra activities and some people are perceived as irritable, lazy or unsociable, simply as a result of not sleeping properly.
NOT TREATING OSA CAN BE VERY HARMFUL, NOT ONLY TO ONESELF, BUT TO OTHERS AS WELL BECAUSE DRIVING WHILE EXCESSIVELY SLEEPY CAN BE AS DANGEROUS AS DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED.
Please discuss your symptoms with your GP. Medical Practitioners refer to the Austroads guidelines for information on medical conditions that affect patients ability to drive. A copy of Assessing Fitness to Drive is available from the Austroads Website by clicking here.– Assessing Fitness to Drive is also available from AUST ROADS, publication number AP-G56/03.
The second consequence has to do with the physical harm OSA has on the body. When oxygen levels in the blood drop to a certain level, the heart detects this and responds by beating more quickly to try and compensate. This stresses the heart and when it occurs repeatedly it can cause long term damage. High blood pressure and heart problems have been strongly associated with OSA. There is also evidence that strokes and heart attacks can be associated with untreated OSA.
