Loud Snoring and Obstructive Apnoea (OSA)
Snoring is caused by the soft tissue in the back of the throat vibrating when your airway relaxes during sleep. But in some cases, the airway becomes so narrow that the walls of the airway stick together and close up. This usually happens for around 10-30 seconds at a time, but can occur for longer – sometimes up to 50 times an hour or even more.
When the airway finally opens up again, you might emit a loud, violent snore. This event is known as an apnoea. Throughout the night, your body will constantly come out of deep sleep in order to help you breathe – doctors call this an “arousal”. Though you might not be aware of an arousal, this is what causes you to feel sleepy the next day. OSA can cause serious health problems if left untreated, including risk of stroke, heart disease and hypertension. If you suspect you have OSA, you should visit your doctor so they can recommend the most suitable treatment for you. For more information about sleep apnoea, click here.
Typical signs of loud snoring / OSA
• Your snoring is very loud
• You wake up gasping/choking
• You feel excessively tired during the daytime