Sleep apnoea: Signs, Risks, and Treatment Options

March 27, 2025

Sleep apnoea: Signs, Risks, and Treatment Options

Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
27 March, 2025

Sleep apnoea_ Signs, Risks, and Treatment Options

Sleep apnoea is a medical condition where someone stops breathing when they fall asleep. Then, their brain forces them to jerk awake, so that they can resume breathing again. When this happens through the night, there are cycles of you snoring, jerking awake and then trying to fall asleep- which means you won’t ever be able to get a full night of good quality sleep. Now, imagine this happening every night for a long period of time. This won’t end well right? In India, it is a pretty common condition, with over 11% of the population being diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea in some form and severity. There are different kinds of sleep apnoea too.

Early Signs And Symptoms Of Sleep Apnoea-

Some of the most common and noticeable signs to watch out for are-

Feeling super exhausted during the day even if you think you have slept through the night
Waking up with a very dry mouth
Episodes where you jerk awake and gasp for breath
Snoring loudly is a common occurrence
You may have a headache in the morning
Hypersomnia- where you feel very sleepy in the day
Feeling very irritable most of the time

Many people snore but they don’t have sleep apnoea. The main difference between snoring and sleep apnoea is how relaxed the nose, mouth and throat tissues get. In Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), they get so relaxed that the passage closes up completely. Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder that can cause chronic sleep deprivation and other long term issues.

Risks Of Untreated Sleep Apnoea On Overall Health-

The main issue with chronic sleep apnoea is the sleep deprivation that follows. Not sleeping enough or not sleeping well can cause a multitude of health issues like diabetes, hypertension, an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and other issues. You may not be in the right mood to work or socialise either and you may also suffer from headaches often.

Best Treatment Options For Obstructive Sleep Apnoea-

After a sleep test diagnoses you with obstructive sleep apnoea, you may be asked to make lifestyle changes along with using a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, lose weight and sleep on your side. You may also be asked to get surgery if needed. A CPAP machine uses a mask through which you inhale air that flows at a particular pressure, to ensure your airways remain open. There are different kinds of these machines too.

Conclusion

Some natural remedies for sleep apnoea without CPAP include going to sleep at a reasonable time everyday, sleeping on the side and NOT on the back, losing weight (obese people are at more risk of suffering from sleep apnoea than others), not drinking alcohol and getting enough exercise everyday respectively. There are other treatment approaches which involve surgery too, but they are not recommended unless it is absolutely necessary. Sleep apnoea is a chronic condition and making lifestyle changes is the only sure fire way to get better, soon, in a healthy and feasible way. So, talk to your doctor about what you can and cannot do and get right to it!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the early signs of sleep apnoea?

You may not be able to get a full night of uninterrupted sleep. You may deal with loud snoring, headaches, feel very tired during the day and gasp and wake up, feeling like you cannot breathe normally.

Can sleep apnoea be treated without a CPAP machine?

Yes, you can change your sleeping position, try to lose extra weight and use nasal strips which help keep your nasal passages open at night. You should mainly focus on making changes to your daily routine. You may also be recommended surgery, depending on what is causing your sleep apnoea- if it is swollen tonsils, a large uvula, if you have a larger than usual tongue base or to help your jaws move better- all in an effort to help you breathe normally.

How does sleep apnoea affect heart health and blood pressure?

Not getting enough oxygen can stress your body out, causing spikes in blood pressure and heart rates- both of which spell bad news for you if it occurs chronically. Sleep apnoea is a common condition, so getting it diagnosed should not be very difficult either.

What is the best sleeping position for someone with sleep apnoea?

Sleeping on the side is the best as your airways remain open throughout and here is less pressure on the passages too. If you sleep on your back, then your snoring and related symptoms may be pretty bad or loud. Sleeping on your left side, in the foetal position is the best. You can also use the right kind of pillows to keep your head on and some between your legs too, to help with better alignment.

How do doctors diagnose and test for sleep apnoea?

Your doctor may ask you to get a polysomnography done- where they look at your heart, breathing rate and brain activity when you sleep – to ascertain whether you have obstructive sleep apnoea or not. They will also check how much you move around when you sleep. They then see how often you stop breathing at night, and give you an AHI (apnoea-Hypopnea Index) score- where a high score indicates the severity of your condition.