Snoring vs. sleep apnoea
Snoring is the sound of turbulent airflow through a partly narrowed airway during sleep. On its own it is common and often harmless. But when the airway repeatedly collapses and briefly stops airflow, that is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) — a condition that can affect your heart, blood pressure and daytime alertness.
Warning signs worth checking
See a specialist if you (or your partner) notice loud, nightly snoring with pauses in breathing or gasping, un-refreshing sleep, morning headaches, daytime sleepiness, or difficulty concentrating. In children, snoring with restless sleep or enlarged tonsils and adenoids also deserves assessment.
What can be done
Assessment may include a sleep history, an airway examination and, where needed, a sleep study. Treatment is tailored to the cause and can range from lifestyle and nasal treatment to addressing enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or other therapies for confirmed sleep apnoea.
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