Snoring and Sleep Disorders
If you or somebody you know is a heavy snorer there is a possibility they are suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
OSA is caused by obstruction of the airway. There is a range of snoring which goes from the very mild occasional snorer through to the worst – the snorer with OSA. OSA occurs when you stop breathing completely for 10 seconds or more when asleep. Most people with OSA do this more than once during a nights sleep. This usually means that the airway has completely collapsed and until the brain wakes up there is no air movement.
How do I know if my snoring is a problem?
Snoring may not be severe enough to cause OSA but it can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness. This can be a problem particularly for those whose job involves operating machinery or driving. OSA sufferers have an increased risk of many health problems including heart attacks, strokes, headaches, sexual impotence and high blood pressure. Unfortunately it can also lead to depression, impaired intellectual function and motor vehicle accidents.
What can be done about this?
There are simple measures that can be taken in the first instance such as cutting down on alcohol, stopping smoking and losing weight. Weight reduction can be difficult though for snorers who are already tired through lack of sleep and do not feel they have the energy to exercise and therefore eat more to try and regain their energy. There are various products on the market all of which are designed to improve snoring. A certain amount of trial and error is therefore involved in getting a contraption to work for you but this can be very time consuming. If alcohol reduction, smoking cessation and weight loss are not enough, it is essential to establish a sound diagnosis from a qualified specialist as to:
- How bad the problem is
- Where the problem is
- What needs to be done about it
If I come to The London Road Clinic what will happen?
You will see an ENT Consultant who is experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. A history of the problem will be taken together with any medical complaints which may be affecting it. You will then be given a sleep disorder questionnaire to complete. Following an examination the consultant will discuss any necessary investigations with you.
Our sleep investigations involve the use of a highly innovative piece of equipment called an Apneagraph. An Apneagraph is the only technology in the world that combines a sleep study with a Nasal-Pharyngeal pressure recording to pin- point the root cause of the snoring problem.
After the investigations you will see the consultant again who will go through the results with you. He will be able to tell you how bad (or not so bad) the problem is, what if anything needs to be done about it, and what this involves. Rather than trial and error, our system ensures an accurate appraisal of what the problem is and how best to treat it.
Can I just book in for this?
You can but we prefer it if you bring or send a referral letter from your GP. This will then tell us of any past or ongoing medical conditions which you may forget to mention during your consultation.
For further information about snoring and sleep disorders and how The London Road Clinic can help you with these conditions, please contact us.