Symptoms
- Loud snoring with pauses
- Gasping or choking at night
- Daytime sleepiness despite sleep
- Morning headaches
- Poor concentration
Sleep apnoea: symptoms, causes & treatment
Obstructive sleep apnoea causes repeated breathing pauses during sleep — loud snoring, daytime sleepiness and cardiovascular risk if untreated.
Editorial information by Kaiser Khan. Not clinically reviewed.
Why it happens
Airway collapse during sleep, strongly linked to obesity, neck size, alcohol and nasal obstruction. More common in men and post-menopause.
Treatment
Weight loss where relevant, CPAP machine for moderate-severe cases, mandibular devices for mild cases. Requires sleep study diagnosis — not treatable with online pills alone.
Self-care that helps
Weight management, sleep on side, avoid alcohol before bed, treat nasal congestion.
When to get help
Partner witnesses breathing pauses, falling asleep driving, or suspected apnoea with heart disease — urgent GP referral for sleep study.
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