Sleep Apnoea Screening

Sleep Apnoea Screening

Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder where a person has pauses in breathing or periods of shallow breathing during sleep. Each pause can last for a few seconds to a few minutes and they happen many times a night. In the most common form, this follows loud snoring.

There may be a choking or snorting sound as breathing resumes. Because the disorder disrupts normal sleep, those affected may experience headaches, morning tiredness, loss of concentration and sleepiness during the day.

Obstructive sleep apnoea is the most common form. Risk factors include being overweight, a family history of the condition, allergies, a small breathing airway, and enlarged tonsils. Some people with sleep apnoea are unaware they have the condition. In many cases it is first observed by a family member.