Background
20% of the adult population snore regularly and loud enough to disturb those around them. There are five things that are most likely to make you snore:
Being overweight
People who are overweight are much more likely to snore than those who are the correct weight for their height. Gaining weight makes existing snoring worse and losing it makes snoring better.
Getting older
Snoring gets worse with age.
Gender
Men are three times more likely to snore than women, but of course women are also afflicted. After the menopause women tend to catch men up.
Drinking alcohol
Alcohol makes snoring worse. This is a direct effect because alcohol relaxes the muscles of the throat and this causes airway collapse - the cause of snoring.
Smoking
Smoking makes snoring worse.
Sleep apnoea and snoring are part of the same condition. Bad snorers tend to develop sleep apnoea. The five important factors in snoring also apply to sleep apnoea. However, occasional stopping of breathing during sleep is not unusual.
There are two types of sleep apnoea. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is caused when the airflow in the in the nose and mouth is obstructed, preventing air from entering the lungs. The resulting periods of 'stopping breathing' only generally become clinically significant if they last for more than 10 seconds each time and occur more than 10 times every hour. OSA only happens during sleep – the obstruction is caused when your throat collapses and during the day your throat muscles normally keep your airway open. When you experience an episode of apnoea during sleep your brain will automatically wake you up
OSA is the commonest form of sleep apnoea, (about 4% of men and 2% of women) but there is also a condition called Central Sleep Apnoea (CSA). This is a condition when the brain does not send the right signals to tell you to breathe when you are asleep. In other words the brain 'forgets' to make you breathe. It can also be associated with weakness of the breathing muscles. The assessment for CSA is often more complicated than for OSA and the treatment has to be carefully matched to the patient's requirements. There is also a condition called Mixed Sleep Apnoea that is a combination of both obstructive and central sleep apnoea.
Service at Gatwick Park
Mr. Bevan will be offering this service. The service is open to private and self pay patients.
What is included?
Consultation and nasendoscopy – which is examination of the nose and throat.
Once completed Mr. Bevan will be able to decide whether the patient is eligible for treatment or needs further investigation.
If they require further investigation then he will perform a sleep apnoeagraph. This is cutting edge technology which the patient wears overnight at home. The machine allows diagnosis of exactly the cause of the snoring/ sleeps disorder and allows the consultant to suggest suitable treatment.
To make an appointment or for more information, please contact us at Spire Gatwick Park Hospital on 01293 778 906 or Email: cservice-gp@spirehealthcare.com
