Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is classed as a sleep-disordered breathing condition and is estimated to affect 4% of middle aged men and 1% of middle aged women in the UK.

What actually happens in OSA?

OSA is caused by the repetitive partial or complete closure of the upper airway during sleep, meaning that the soft tissues of the throat collapse, blocking airflow into the lungs. As the body senses that there is a reduced level of oxygen in the circulation due to this reduction in airflow, stress hormones are released, triggering the heart rate to increase, which disturbs sleep and wakes you up, if only briefly, to get you to take in a breath. This pattern can occur a few times or in some, many times an hour, and makes it extremely difficult for the sufferer to get a good night's sleep.

Factors that may increase your risk of OSA:

• Increasing age
• Being overweight
• Being male
• Having a large collar size
• Having a small lower jaw
• Being a diabetic
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol
• Using sedative drugs

What are the signs and symptoms of OSA?

• Snoring
• Gasping or choking during the night
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Cognitive dysfuction or 'Brain Fog'
• Impaired alertness
• Morning headaches
• Low libido or sexual dysfuction
• Frequent trips to the toilet during the night
• Disturbed or unrefreshed sleep
• High blood pressure
• Poor job performance
• Difficulty losing weight

If you identify with a number of the above risk factors or symptoms, visit your GP or consider one of our in home sleep studies. You can also take this quick, free test to see whether your symptoms correspond with those of known sleep apneics.