I’T’S estimated that over 900 million people worldwide suffer from severe sleep apnoea, yet the most alarming part is that the majority don’t even realise they have it. Most people tend to overlook this disorder, but if they understood the implications associated with sleep apnoea and how it affects overall health and well-being, they’d surely be running to the nearest sleep lab or grabbing whatever home sleep testing device they could find.

Think about it — if you knew you could be at risk of a disorder that causes you to stop breathing for seconds to minutes while you’re asleep, putting you at risk for heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, or even sexual dysfunction, you’d want to learn all there is to know about this issue, right? First, we have to know how to identify it within ourselves, as well as the tell-tale signs that signal our loved ones might be suffering from this menacing issue.

We sat down with Gregory Arneaud, founder and clinical director of iSD Health Solutions, the first World Sleep Day delegate for Jamaica, and author of The Wake Up Call: How You Sleep Is How You Live to explore five of them.

Loud snoring

Almost everyone knows someone, whether within their family or a friend, who snores ridiculously loud while they’re asleep. This is something that you may not be able to identify within yourself because, of course, you’re sleeping. Nobody knows what goes on with their body or what happens to them while they sleep. Sleeping is a non-recall state of mind. However, if you have a bedside partner or people have told you about your snoring, especially if it’s accompanied by choking or gasping sounds, this may be a clear sign that you may be suffering from sleep apnoea.

Daytime fatigue

Despite spending considerable time sleeping, people with sleep apnoea often wake up feeling tired and groggy. This persistent daytime fatigue can affect productivity, concentration, and overall quality of life. Imagine waking up every morning feeling like you haven’t slept a wink, no matter how early you went to bed or how many hours you spent sleeping. It’s like dragging yourself through the day with a constant cloud of exhaustion hanging over your head. When it comes to sleep, it isn’t just about the quantity but in fact the quality of sleep that you’re getting.

Morning headaches

Waking up with a headache or dry throat can be a sign of sleep apnoea. The repeated interruptions in breathing while you’re sleeping that characterises sleep apnoea can lead to decreased oxygen levels in the blood and increased carbon dioxide levels, resulting in morning headaches or a dry throat.

Frequent urination at night

People suffering from sleep apnoea may experience frequent trips to the bathroom during the night. This constant disruption in sleep in turn disrupts the body’s normal processes, including the regulation of fluids. This would then lead to excessive urination at night.

Daytime sleepiness

Have you ever interacted with someone who can fall asleep at any given time during the day? It can be during an important meeting at the office, or while they’re eating or even worse, during mid conversation with another person! Most times, it’s not necessarily that the meeting, meal or conversation is so boring that it’s sleep-inducing. Excessive daytime sleepiness is another major symptom of sleep apnoea. Most people who unknowingly grapple with this disorder often feel excessively tired during the day, regardless of how much sleep they get at night. The real danger is when this becomes a life-threatening issue where it’s so chronic that the sleepiness occurs while driving or operating heavy machinery on the job.

If you suspect that you or a loved one may have sleep apnoea, it’s essential to seek help from a health-care provider. A thorough evaluation, including a sleep study, can help diagnose sleep apnoea and determine the most appropriate treatment options. From lifestyle changes and oral appliances to specific forms of therapy, there are many options available for managing sleep apnoea and improving sleep quality. So if you suspect that you or a loved one may be suffering from sleep apnoea based on these tell-tale symptoms, then it is extremely essential that you get a sleep study done. This would help diagnose sleep apnoea and would assist your healthcare provider in determining the most appropriate treatment options.

Recognising these signs and seeking timely treatment is essential for protecting your long-term health and well-being. By addressing sleep apnoea, you’re not only improving your sleep quality, but you’re also giving yourself a chance to enjoy better physical health, enhanced cognitive function, and a more balanced emotional state. Don’t ignore the signs! Prioritise your sleep health and take the necessary steps to reclaim restful nights and revitalised days, because how you sleep is how you live!