Did you know snoring could be a symptom of a serious medical condition called sleep apnoea? This results in frequent pauses in breath then restarts with a loud snort or gasp. It is caused when muscles supporting the airway relax during sleep, allowing the airway to collapse inwards and becoming blocked. The most common form of sleep apnoea is called obstructive sleep apnoea or OSA.

The Effects Of Snoring On Your Health

Episodes of OSA can occur hundreds of times a night, preventing deep, restorative sleep. Even though people with OSA may think they sleep well, they frequently awaken feeling tired and fatigued. OSA can increase your risk of developing serious health problems including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes. Diagnosing and Treating Sleep Apnoea

Quite often OSA can be easily treated by prescribing a custom-made night splint. This works by comfortably positioning your lower jaw so your airway is held open. It can also be useful to avoid alcohol and caffeine before bedtime and to ensure you maintain a normal weight. At 1300SMILES we can talk to you about any OSA symptoms you may be experiencing and by completing an examination with us, we will be able to help determine your best course of action for treatment.  If we think your sleep apnoea is more serious or is being caused by another condition then we can refer you to a specialist who will be someone that we know and trust to look after you.