Experts warn that heavy snoring, especially when it disrupts your partner’s sleep, may indicate a serious condition known as sleep apnoea. This disorder, characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, can significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases like coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and stroke. It is also linked to a higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Sleep apnoea affects around one billion people worldwide, yet many remain undiagnosed, often dismissed as just loud snoring. Signs for partners to watch for include breathing pauses, choking episodes, and gasping during sleep. Specialists Dr. Ryan Chin Taw Cheong and Dr. Alanna Hare emphasize the critical need to recognize these symptoms and prioritize sleep health to prevent serious complications.
Dr. Cheong, a consultant ENT and sleep surgeon, notes that societal attitudes toward sleep have changed: “Where once sleep deprivation was seen as a badge of honor, now we understand that quality sleep is fundamental to health. Troubling snoring should no longer be ignored—it can signal life-threatening conditions.”
READ MORE: Biker Dies in Fatal Collision with BMW Near Yeovil
READ MORE: Roof of Derelict Sherborne Building Collapses Following Intense Fire
Dr. Hare, a sleep and ventilation consultant, adds that many patients are unaware that symptoms such as excessive tiredness or forgetfulness are linked to this disorder. Embarrassment about snoring often prevents patients from discussing it with their doctors.
Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs when throat muscles relax during REM sleep, blocking the airway and reducing oxygen intake. This oxygen drop strains vital organs like the heart. Additional symptoms may occur during the day, including fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, and difficulties concentrating. Untreated sleep apnoea also increases the risk of severe road accidents due to impaired alertness.
Dr. Hare highlights that in women, especially those approaching or past menopause, sleep apnoea often manifests as insomnia and fatigue, leading to misdiagnosis as depression. The condition affects men twice as often as women and becomes more prevalent with age. Factors such as obesity, smoking, alcohol use, and hormonal changes increase the risk.
If you suspect sleep apnoea, partners and family members should monitor for loud snoring, breathing pauses, or choking noises during sleep. Consulting a GP and completing screening tools like the STOP-BANG questionnaire can help assess risk.
Diagnostic options range from at-home medical-grade oxygen monitoring devices to drug-induced sleep endoscopy for personalized evaluation. Treatments include CPAP machines that maintain airway pressure, dental devices to reposition the jaw, or surgical nerve implants to keep the airway open.
Both doctors stress the importance of addressing sleep health proactively. Dr. Cheong concludes, “Prioritizing good sleep is the best investment you can make for your overall health. All other aspects of well-being depend on it.”