Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Only in recent years has it become clear that sleep apnoea is a widespread, serious condition with grave symptoms and consequences if untreated. It is the most common sleep disorder, affecting around 2 percent of women and 5 percent of men in the 30-60 year age group. There are an estimated 70,000-80,000 sleep apnoea sufferers in Ireland. The vast majority of these have yet to be diagnosed.You can tell if someone has sleep apnoea by their breathing pattern while they sleep.There will be noticeable pauses in breathing followed by a snore as breathing starts again. These pauses can last between ten seconds and two minutes and can occur several hundred times per night, though the sufferer may not be aware of it.

The cause of these pauses or ‘apnoeas’ is a relaxing of the pharynx muscles and soft palate at the back of the throat, sometimes accompanied by increased tissue pressure from around the neck. As these muscles relax they block the narrow airway causing a temporary breathing stoppage.

The brain reacts to the breathing signals – oxygen deficiency and increased or irregular heart rate – and triggers a survival reaction. The person snores loudly as they pull in air and breathing begins again. This event causes the person to wake though they may not be conscious of it.