Unichem Manly Pharmacy

In deep sleep, the muscles of the throat relax, which usually doesn't cause a breathing problem. However if a person suffers from OSA, that back of the throat becomes so relaxed during sleep that part of the airway is closed off. The lack of oxygen leads to semi-wakening and then the person starts breathing again, often with a loud snort or sharp intake of air. The cycle repeats sometimes up to hundreds of times in a night and the person is often completely unaware of the problem.

Not everyone who snores has sleep apnoea, and not everyone who has sleep apnoea snores. So how do you tell the difference? Normal snoring doesn't interfere with the quality of your sleep as much as sleep apnoea does, so if you are suffering from sleep apnoea you are likely to show some other symptoms.

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Signs that you might have OSA include:

• Feeling tired through the day

• Loud snoring

• Pauses in breathing

• Getting up to go to the toilet frequently at night

• Morning headache

• Dry throat

• Difficulty concentrating and/or memory loss

• Impotence

• Moodiness, irritability, depression

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Sleep apnoea is a serious issue. It can even cause serious physical health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, liver problems, and weight gain. If you are concerned that you might have sleep apnoea, come and speak to us at Unichem Manly Pharmacy. We can talk you through any issues and have sleep apnoea testing available if need be. If you are the snoree, bring your snorer along for a quiet chat. It may be that you have noticed the breathing difficulties when they have not. And if you are diagnosed with sleep apnoea, there are several types of treatment available, which means a good night's sleep is actually achievable!