If you or anyone in your household snore, then you know the negative consequences it can lead to.
And not just referring to negative social impact it can cause in a houseohld but also the major negative health conditions it leads to.
And for those who sleep abnormally loud it can be a sign of something more serious, sleep apnoea.
Originally published at ABC.net.au, see the article below that discusses more about this condition and how it can be diagnosed and treated:
Fifty percent of people who snore loudly have sleep apnoea, according to a NSW doctor who says the condition can lead to serious illnesses.
Loud snoring is the most commonly recognisable symptom of sleep apnoea, a condition relating to the upper airway in the region of your throat.
Sleep specialist Terry Sands said people with sleep apnea have an “abnormal airway that is more collapsible”.
“What’s happening is that you are trying to breathe,” Dr Sands said.
“But if your upper airway is totally collapsed, no air can go in and out, so there’s no noise.”
Apnoea sufferers often make a choking noise as the airway reopens, and then resume snoring.
Symptoms to look out for
Daytime symptoms of sleep apnoea can include morning headaches, sleepiness, and poor concentration and memory.
Sufferers can also be prone to irritability and feeling overly emotional, anxious and depressed.
Night-time sleep apnoea symptoms
More difficult to detect can be the night-time symptoms of sleep apnoea — snoring, gasping for breath, and choking sounds.
These symptoms are likely to worsen with overtiredness, stress, obesity and drinking too much alcohol.
If left untreated, sleep apnoea sufferers can have an increased risk of stroke, abnormal heart rhythm, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and in some cases death.
Confirming a diagnosis
Australasian Sleep Association president-elect Associate Professor Alan Young said the most comprehensive way to diagnose the condition required the patient to sleep in a laboratory where they could be observed throughout the night by experts.
“Patients are monitored very closely with a variety of measurements attached to the skin,” Dr Young said.
“EGE leads are attached to the top of the head, breathing is monitored, and ECG leads record data from the heart and chest, plus small bands go around the chest and tummy to monitor the breathing.”
Oxygen levels are also monitored by a device that is placed on a finger or earlobe.
