Partners should be vigilant about bedroom symptoms that could indicate serious health conditions, including heart disease and stroke. Experts warn that snoring loud enough to wake a partner may be a sign of sleep apnoea, a condition that, if left untreated, can lead to fatal cardiovascular issues.
What Is Sleep Apnoea?
Sleep apnoea is an obstructive sleep disorder where throat muscles relax during REM sleep, blocking the airway and reducing breathing capability. This drop in oxygen levels puts strain on organs such as the heart. The condition affects approximately 1 billion people worldwide, yet many dismiss it as mere heavy snoring and leave it untreated.
Untreated sleep apnoea increases the risk of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, and is also linked to a significantly higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Additionally, it can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, brain fog, mood disturbances, and difficulty concentrating. Drivers with untreated sleep apnoea are up to ten times more likely to be involved in road traffic accidents, which tend to be more severe due to impaired reactions.
Spotting the Signs
Partners are often the first to notice dangerous signs, such as pauses in breathing, choking episodes, and gasping for air during sleep. Dr. Ryan Chin Taw Cheong, consultant ENT and sub-specialist sleep surgeon, notes that the culture has shifted from viewing sleep deprivation as a badge of honor to prioritizing sleep as a foundation of health. Snoring, once dismissed, is now recognized as a potential indicator of serious conditions.
Dr. Alanna Hare, consultant in sleep and ventilation at Royal Brompton Hospital in London, adds that patients often aren't aware of the signs, attributing tiredness or forgetfulness to normal aging. Many feel embarrassed about snoring and hesitate to report it to a GP. In women, sleep apnoea can present as insomnia and fatigue, especially during perimenopause or postmenopause, and is frequently undiagnosed because it differs from typical male symptoms and may be misdiagnosed as depression.
Risk Factors and Diagnosis
Sleep apnoea can affect anyone, but it is twice as common in men as in women. Prevalence increases after age 69. Other risk factors include obesity, menopause, smoking, and alcohol consumption. If you suspect sleep apnoea, partners or family members should look for heavy snoring, witnessed breathing pauses, or choking. Dr. Hare recommends speaking to a GP or using online questionnaires like STOP-BANG to evaluate sleep health.
Dr. Cheong, who works at Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, discusses personalized diagnostic options. These include medical-grade devices worn in bed to track oxygen levels or drug-induced sleep endoscopy to gain a tailored understanding of sleep health.
Treatment Options
Treatment varies based on individual needs. Options include using a CPAP machine, which delivers a steady stream of pressurized air through a mask to keep airways open during sleep. Other solutions involve dental appliances that reposition the jaw or a surgical nerve implant that moves the tongue forward to maintain an open airway.
Both doctors emphasize the importance of sleep health and strongly advise seeking medical attention for any sleep concerns. Dr. Cheong states, "Sleep health is the greatest return on investment you can make on your health. Everything else builds upon good sleep. Good sleep is the foundation of all health."
