Health experts have issued a warning as a common sleep disorder that affects millions of Brits can raise your risk of some devastating conditions. The disorder, symptoms of which include loud snoring and waking up a lot, can lead to dementia, according to research.
They have also warned that untreated obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) can result in dangerous heart issues.
The Sleep Apnoea Trust states that around 10 million people in the UK are living with OSA, with four million experiencing “moderate” or “severe” symptoms.
OSA causes the walls of the throat to become narrower as you sleep. This results in a range of symptoms such as loud snoring, waking up a lot and making gasping, snorting or choking noises while the person rests.
As a result this can also lead to tiredness during the day and finding it difficult to concentrate. The NHS says that OSA “needs to be treated” because it can lead to “more serious problems”.
This can include dementia, The Mirror reports. One study, published in Nature Communications journal in 2022, found a link between a lack of oxygen to the brain during sleep and Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
One of the study authors, Professor Elizabeth Coulson from the University of Queensland, explained: “We developed a novel way to induce sleep-disrupted breathing and found the mice displayed exacerbated pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease.
“It demonstrated that hypoxia – when the brain is deprived of oxygen – caused the same selective degeneration of neurons that characteristically die in dementia.” Further testing was set to be carried out on humans.
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She continued: “Early stage human trials are underway with sleep clinicians in Brisbane and Sydney to determine the correlation between hypoxia and sustained cognitive impairment, and whether CPAP [a continuous positive airway pressure machine] can reduce dementia risk.
“I would strongly recommend anyone with obstructive sleep apnoea use a CPAP machine to maintain cognitive function, as well as assist with other health issues.”
Experts have also explained a potential link between sleep apnoea and heart problems. Cardiomyopathy UK says: “Sleep apnoea is closely linked to heart conditions, with both conditions influencing each other’s development and severity.
“Sleep apnoea can worsen existing heart conditions or increase the risk of developing them, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, arrhythmias, strokes, and heart attacks. The condition can cause stress on the heart, trigger fluctuations in oxygen levels, and contribute to the formation of plaques in blood vessels.
“Effective management of sleep apnoea is important for reducing cardiovascular risks and improving overall health outcomes.”
The NHS lists symptoms of OSA while you sleep as:
- Breathing stopping and starting
- Making gasping, snorting or choking noises
- Waking up a lot
- Loud snoring
During the day, you may also:
- Feel very tired
- Find it hard to concentrate
- Have mood swings
- Have a headache when you wake up
A doctor might recommend using a device called a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to help with OSA.The machine delivers enough air pressure to keep the upper airway passages open through a mask which is used when sleeping.
This can prevent both sleep apnoea and snoring, which could help further lower the risk of serious health conditions. The NHS says you should speak to your GP if “you have any of the main symptoms of sleep apnoea”.