Tuesday, November 01, 2016

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: Ever wake up feeling you never slept?



Do you find yourself dozing off during the day or while driving? Does your partner complain that you snore very loudly or even seem like choking during sleep?  If you are male, overweight, middle aged and have a thick neck circumference, chances are that you may have sleep apnoea.

Sleep apnoea is a condition where the soft tissues in your neck gets so relaxed during sleep that it blocks the airway and causes you to wake up momentarily many times during the night.  Thus you never get into deep sleep and wake up feeling that you haven't slept well.

This condition is quite common and affects around 30% of the adult population in Singapore.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) can affect your health as well.  Approximately 50% of those suffering from sleep apnoea have high blood pressure and OSA may be a risk factor for heart attacks.

If you suspect you have sleep apnoea, do drop by the clinic.  We can do a simple test to see if you have this condition and help you get a good night's sleep!