You snore when some parts of your throat vibrate. This only happens when you are asleep. Muscles in the back of your throat relax causing a narrowing and this causes a vibration when you breathe. The narrower it is, the more easily it will vibrate and the louder you will snore.

Problem snoring may be an early warning signal that sleep apnoea is present. If this is the case, a Sleep Study can help determine if there is something more going on than just snoring. Sleep Apnoea is a serious health condition that needs attention.

Even some children have a problem with snoring, this is not normal and should be investigated straight away.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is one of the most common sleep disorders diagnosed in Australia. 25% of men and 9% of women have OSA, however after menopause women are just as likely to have OSA as men. A common misconception is that OSA only affect older overweight men. This is not true. Anyone can have OSA, including children. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a condition that causes the upper airway to collapse during sleep - as we relax into sleep, our muscles relax too. For OSA sufferers, this upper airway restriction can lead to a decrease in available oxygen. You can stop breathing for 10 – 20 seconds or even more than a minute. This can happen hundreds of times a night, disturbing your sleep and leading to a myriad of health concerns. None of us know what is happening while we are asleep but if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed below, call us today to arrange a sleep study or consultation.

• Loud, chronic snoring
• Frequent pauses in breathing during sleep
• Gasping, snorting, or choking during sleep
• Feeling exhausted after waking
• Daytime sleepiness
• Morning headaches
• Waking up with shortness of breath, chest pains, nasal congestion, or a dry throat
• Moodiness
• Impotence
• Loss of memory
• Unexplained weight gain

Central Sleep Apnoea (CSA) is less common than OSA. It occurs when your brain forgets to tell your diaphragm muscles to breathe. It is often associated with other conditions:

• Congestive heart failure
• Hypothyroid Disease
• Kidney failure
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s & Alzheimer’s
• Damage to the brainstem caused by encephalitis, stroke, injury, or other factors