What is Sleep Apnoea?

Sleep apnoea is a common condition that affects breathing during sleep. It doesn’t usually go away on its own, but with the right treatment, symptoms can be well-managed and quality of life greatly improved.

The word “apnoea” means a pause in breathing. In sleep apnoea, these pauses last at least 10 seconds and may occur several times an hour. While asleep, people are often unaware of these events, but they can affect how restful sleep is and may contribute to other health concerns over time.

Because symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for other issues, many people with sleep apnoea remain undiagnosed. If you suspect you may have it, a simple sleep study can help provide answers.

Types of Sleep Apnoea:

Sleep-related breathing disorders are generally divided into two types: obstructive and central sleep apnea. But mixed forms can occur as well.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)

The most common form, OSA happens when the airway becomes partially or completely blocked during sleep. This is often due to the relaxation of muscles in the throat. The brain briefly signals the body to wake enough to resume breathing — sometimes without the person being aware. Such a breathing disorder prevents the body from receiving enough oxygen. Additionally, the pulse and blood pressure drop, the brain’s respiratory center sounds the alarm, triggering a wake-up response. Affected individuals briefly wake up, usually without noticing it. The sleep rhythm is disrupted, the heart starts to beat faster, and blood pressure rises. This brief wake-up response is also referred to as an arousal.

Central Sleep Apnoea (CSA)

Less common, CSA is caused by a dysfunction of the brain’s respiratory center during sleep. There is a sudden cessation of activity in the diaphragm and the respiratory muscles. Due to the lack of respiratory drive, the body receives too little oxygen.

Mixed or Complex Sleep Apneoa.

In mixed apnea, affected individuals suffer from both obstructive and central apnoea.

Why It’s Important to Address Sleep Apnoea

When untreated, sleep apnoea can affect energy levels, mood, and overall wellbeing. It may also contribute to other health issues over time. The good news is that with proper diagnosis and treatment — such as CPAP therapy, lifestyle adjustments, or other tailored options — most people see significant improvement in their sleep quality and daily life.

If you think you might have sleep apnoea, speak with your healthcare provider. Effective treatments are available, and better sleep is possible.

The symptoms of sleep apnea can develop gradually in a person’s daily life. However, they are only very rarely associated with poor sleep – even though the quality of life of those affected is often severely impaired.

People experiencing sleep disorders should consult their general practitioner first. There, it can be determined whether the symptoms correspond to those of a sleep-related breathing disorder. If this is the case, a referral to a sleep specialist will be issued. This can include, for example, a pulmonologist, internist, or ENT specialist. The subsequent diagnostics take place in several steps. As a rule, an initial examination called polygraphy is conducted, during which a small diagnostic device is taken home to be worn overnight for a preliminary assessment. The diagnostic device measures, among other things, breathing, heart rate, snoring sounds, and oxygen saturation during sleep. It also records which sleep position was adopted at what time and whether any breathing pauses occurred. If the results indicate sleep apnea, the patient is referred to a sleep laboratory. A comprehensive sleep study is conducted in the sleep laboratory. This so-called polysomnography enables the definitive diagnosis. Upon discharge, patients are informed about the treatment options for sleep apnea.