Assessment and treatment of loud snoring and breathing pauses during sleep (obstructive sleep apnoea), which can cause daytime tiredness and heart problems.
Overview
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a condition in which the airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep, causing loud snoring, breathing pauses and broken sleep. Untreated, it can lead to daytime sleepiness and contributes to high blood pressure and heart problems.
Our respiratory specialists and ENT doctors evaluate sleep-related breathing problems and advise treatment, including CPAP therapy and lifestyle measures.
Who needs this treatment?
- Loud, regular snoring
- Pauses in breathing or choking during sleep noticed by others
- Excessive daytime sleepiness or morning headaches
- Hard-to-control blood pressure, especially with obesity
Benefits
- Better sleep quality and daytime alertness
- Lower risk of accidents due to drowsiness
- Helps control blood pressure and heart risk
How it is done
Before the procedure
The doctor takes a detailed history and examines your nose and throat.
During the procedure
A sleep study records breathing, oxygen levels and other signals during sleep to confirm the diagnosis and its severity.
After the procedure
Treatment may include weight loss, positional therapy, a CPAP machine that keeps the airway open with gentle air pressure, or ENT treatment of nasal or throat obstruction.
Recovery and aftercare
CPAP users usually notice better sleep within days to weeks.
Frequently asked questions
No. Many people snore without having sleep apnoea. A sleep study helps tell the difference.
This page gives general information. Whether a treatment is right for you, and what it involves, depends on your condition; your doctor will explain the options after examining you.