The condition is caused by a sleep related decrease in muscle tone in the upper airway. This causes a collapse of the upper airway – leading to snoring and the pauses in breathing.
As a result of the condition, sufferers experience severe daytime sleepiness, headaches in the morning and irritability. On a more serious note, long term effects include cardiovascular disease, depression, fatigue and an increased risk of fatigue related accidents.
Factors which increase the chance of sleep apnoea (and thus factors to modify to reduce the chance of SA) include obesity, smoking, alcohol, having a large neck and snoring.
Aside from reducing these factors, the condition can be treated using a continuous passive airway pressure device. See a medical professional for more details.
Snoring can be more than an inconvenience for a frustrated ‘bed-mate’. It can be a sign of a much more serious condition, with major implications for long term health – particularly cardiovascular health. With cardiovascular disease being the major cause of death, it makes sense to take action.
