A good night’s sleep is a key part of staying well, but it can often be hard to come by. Sleep apnoea is more common than expected, with a staggering 936 million adults worldwide affected by the disorder. But would you recognise the symptoms?

Interested in helping people recognise symptoms early, Mattress Online has highlighted the most identifiable signs of sleep apnoea, ways to reduce the impact, and when to seek the help of a medical professional.

What is sleep apnoea?

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is when your throat relaxes too much during sleep, causing you to stop breathing and briefly disrupting your sleep cycle.

What are the signs?

According to the NHS, these are the signs of sleep apnoea you should look out for in yourself and your partner:

• Waking up with a headache
• Excessive tiredness during the day
• Loud snoring 
• Making gasping or choking noises
• Breathing, stopping, and starting

What causes sleep apnoea?

According to the NHS, many things can be linked to sleep apnoea, such as:

• Smoking
• Obesity 
• Family history 
• Age 
• A larger neck

Getting a diagnosis

If you suspect you or your partner have sleep apnoea, seek help from your doctor. They may refer you to a sleep clinic, where you’ll receive equipment to monitor your breathing and heart rate while you sleep overnight. The test results will determine if you have sleep apnoea and its severity.

How is sleep apnoea treated?

Here are some lifestyle changes you can make daily to help ease the strain of sleep apnoea and insomnia at night:

• Exercising regularly
• Losing weight
• Spending plenty of time outdoors and in natural light; a simple walk outdoors can be hugely beneficial to your physical and mental health
• Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages, tea, and coffee containing caffeine later in the day, as these can negatively affect your sleep quality

If these methods are ineffective, other treatments can include:

• A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to wear while you sleep
• A gum shield that keeps your airways open while you’re sleeping
• Surgery to remove large tonsils

Overall, the importance of getting a good night’s sleep should not be neglected. As sleep apnoea could be one of the reasons that affects your sleep quality, noticing the signs of it definitely plays a crucial role. Upon understanding the causes of sleep apnoea, you could then seek advice from professionals. With proper treatments, you are able to enhance your sleep quality. Remember, a good night’s sleep makes another day better!