New to Sleep Apnoea? Start Here
Sleep Apnoea: the few things that matter most, and the mistakes that catch people out early.
Repeated closure of the upper airway during sleep, causing breathing pauses and fragmented sleep.
Key takeaways
- Definition of an apnoea: breathing stops for 10 seconds or more
- Classic triad: loud snoring, witnessed pauses, daytime sleepiness
- Most useful single change: Ask whoever sleeps near you whether you stop breathing or gasp.
- Commonest mistake: Driving when sleepy, or ignoring falling asleep during the day.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Why bother
It is strongly associated with resistant high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and road traffic collisions, and is substantially underdiagnosed.
Start here
These two first. Everything else is easier once they are habit.
- Ask whoever sleeps near you whether you stop breathing or gasp
- Try side sleeping and reducing evening alcohol while awaiting assessment
Then add these
Once the first two are automatic, these are worth adding.
- Persist with CPAP through the first difficult fortnight
- Treat weight loss and nasal obstruction as part of the picture
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Definition of an apnoea | breathing stops for 10 seconds or more |
| Classic triad | loud snoring, witnessed pauses, daytime sleepiness |
| Standard treatment, moderate to severe | CPAP |
| Diagnosis | a sleep study, often at home |
| Legal duty in the UK | inform the DVLA if sleepiness affects driving |
Common early mistakes
- Driving when sleepy, or ignoring falling asleep during the day
- Anti-snoring gadgets as a substitute for assessment if you have pauses
- Alcohol or sedatives at night, which worsen airway collapse
Where to go next
- Sleep Apnoea: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- Why Sleep Apnoea Matters, Explained Simply
- Sleep Apnoea — the reference entry
- Caffeine and Sleep: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- Shift Work and Sleep: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
When to speak to a doctor
See a GP if you snore loudly and wake unrefreshed, if anyone has seen you stop breathing or gasp, or if you fall asleep involuntarily during the day. Do not drive while excessively sleepy, and in the UK you must tell the DVLA about a condition causing excessive daytime sleepiness.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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