Treatment for Sleep Apnoea
Sleep apnoea is a sleeping disorder you might not even realise you have — usually your partner is more aware of it than you are.
What is sleep apnoea?
Sleep apnoea is a disrupted breathing pattern during sleep. The upper airway closes as you relax and your body stops breathing for a period — usually around ten to twenty seconds. Each occasion is called an apnoea.
Sometimes this wakes you up, but more often you simply resume breathing without realising you have woken for a few seconds and that your sleep has been disrupted.
Mild: 5–15 episodes of apnoea an hour
Moderate: 15–30 episodes an hour
Severe: more than 30 episodes an hour
Who suffers from sleep apnoea?
Sleep apnoea affects 1–4% of the population — usually men over 40 with a sedentary job, such as driving or office work. Women are half as likely to have sleep apnoea until the menopause, after which they are affected as much as men.
People who are overweight are most at risk: about two thirds of patients with the condition are overweight, partly because extra weight on the neck presses down and closes the throat during sleep. Most people with sleep apnoea have a larger than normal neck.
Sleep apnoea is seen in about 3% of children, usually because of enlarged tonsils — easily treated by removing them.
How is sleep apnoea treated?
At the Sleeping Disorders Centre you will have a series of tests and assessments before the most suitable treatment is recommended.
Changing your lifestyle
Once you have been diagnosed, Mr Oko and his team can help you make changes that reduce sleep apnoea:
Losing weight reduces the weight on your neck, making it less likely to press on your windpipe.
Alcohol and smoking can both cause and worsen sleep apnoea, so you may be advised to drink less or stop smoking.
Sleeping on your side can greatly improve your breathing, and you may be given strategies to make this simple change.
Sometimes lifestyle changes alone are not enough and further treatment is needed.
CPAP — continuous positive airway pressure
If you have moderate or severe sleep apnoea and lifestyle changes don’t help, you may be recommended a CPAP machine to use while you sleep. A mask attached to the machine provides a steady supply of air at a slightly higher pressure than normal, keeping your throat open.
Wearing it every night can seem an odd solution, but if you persevere CPAP can improve your sleep immediately and have a huge impact on your waking life. It is the safest and most tried-and-tested treatment for sleep apnoea and is recommended by NICE. More about CPAP →
Mandibular advancement devices
Some obstructive sleep apnoea is caused by the lower jaw sitting too far back. A specially made device brings your jaw forward so your airway stays clearer as you sleep. It is usually used for mild to moderate sleep apnoea, or for people who can’t sleep with a CPAP device. More about mandibular devices →
Surgery for sleep apnoea
Surgery is not usually a first option — in Mr Oko’s practice only about 11% of patients have surgery. In some cases, especially in children, obstructive sleep apnoea is caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoids, and removing them removes the problem.
For more detail, read Mr Oko’s Guide to Sleep Apnoea.