It is estimated that 25% of the UK population are snorers, that’s approximately 15 million people. If you are one of them, you may feel you have restless sleep, be embarrassed by it or concerned about the disturbance it causes those you sleep and live with. However, are you aware that this troublesome condition, which in the past was considered annoying but harmless, can be a sign of a more serious underlying illness?

Approximately 1 in 10 snorers actually have a sleep disorder known as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).

Well, this can be difficult without monitoring your breathing whilst asleep but a good place to start to see if you should get tested is to look through the list of risk factors, signs and symptoms below and if you identify with several of them, particularly if they are the asterisked (*) ones, we suggest you consider ordering an Intus In-Home Sleep Study.

Contributing Factors for OSA

• Increasing age
• Being overweight *
• Being male
• Small lower jaw
• Large collar size *
• Existing diabetic *
• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Use of sedatives

* Key risk factors

Signs & Symptoms of OSA

• Snoring *
• Excessive Daytime Sleepiness or Fatigue *
• Frequently falling asleep during the day *
• Non-refreshed sleep
• Restless sleep
• Gasping or choking during the night *
• Cognitive Dysfunction / Brain Fog / Unclear Thinking
• Impaired Alertness
• Clouded memory
• Irritability
• Morning Headaches
• Reduced ability to handle stress
• Sexual Dysfunction / Lowered Libido
• Frequent toilet visits during the night *
• High Blood Pressure

* Key sign or symptom

Why is it so important to test for & treat OSA?

OSA occurs when soft tissues in the airways collapse causing partial or complete obstructions (each known as an apnoea - pronounce app-knee-ah) of the airways during sleep. These events may only be for very brief periods, but will cause frequent micro disturbances to sleep, often preventing the sufferer from ever attaining deep sleep . Over time this can have a significant negative impact on overall health, causing not only the symptoms above but increased risk of the following:

• Poor quality of life
• Constant Fatigue
• Partner sleeping in separate room
• Divorce or relationship problems
• Poor job performance (job loss)
• Heart attacks
• Loss of libido or sexual dysfunction
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Death or injury from road traffic accidents

What's the next step?

Now you know the risk factors, signs and symptoms as well as the risks, please read our Guide to choosing the right sleep study to pick the one that best matches your situation.

If you want to speak to one of our knowledgeable staff members, please contact us right away. Calls are answered Monday to Friday 9 to 6 and you may even catch us on a Saturday. All e-mails are promptly relied to as well so if you are confused or not sure how to proceed, do get in touch.

Intus Healthcare
Therapeutic options for proactive people