Picture this: Every two minutes, someone wakes you up because you’re snoring loudly, disrupting everyone’s peaceful sleep. Exhausting, isn’t it? But snoring isn’t just annoying – when you stop breathing while snoring you might have sleep apnoea, which can lead to serious health issues.
‘The king of snoring’
When Thapelo Mongezi dozes off, it’s not just a nap – it’s a nightmare! This man from Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape has become known in his circle as the “king of snoring”.
He says it doesn’t matter if he’s tired or not, but when he shuts his eyes, he snores. It has made it difficult for him to sleep during social gatherings or visits because his snoring disturbs others.
“Sleeping alone gives me peace and comfort, allowing me to sleep more deeply and comfortably.”
He says it bothers him that other people would be unable to sleep peacefully around him.
“I can hear the snoring noises I make while I sleep. Sometimes it sounds like I’m struggling to breathe. When I snore, it can also cause me to feel short of breath and I experience heartburn.”
Thapelo Mongezi
He has tried using different pillow sizes, but it didn’t have any effect on the snoring. No matter what he does, he still snores every night.
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When it’s more than just snoring
Dr Lethu Letsoalo from #Keready mobile clinics in the Western Cape explains that sleep apnoea (or apnea) occurs when your breathing stops and starts during sleep, leading to frequent awakenings, loud snoring, and gasping or choking sounds.
Causes include a thick or low soft palate obstructing the airway, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, excess weight and muscle tissue in the throat, excessive alcohol consumption before bedtime, chronic nasal congestion, sleep position, and lack of sleep.
“Snoring can have significant harmful effects on your daily functioning. It causes daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, frequent frustration and anger.”
Snoring and sleep apnoea can both cause extreme tiredness, which can lead to an increased risk of accidents such as car crashes. Additionally, there are more serious consequences associated with these conditions, such as an increased risk of chronic conditions like high blood pressure, heart conditions, strokes, depression, and mood changes, she explains.
“In children, it can cause an increase in behaviour problems such as aggression and learning problems.”
Dr Lethu Letsoalo
Treatment options
Dr Mxolisi Xulu, based at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, simplifies obstructive sleep apnoea as a breathing problem during sleep.
This occurs when the airflow is greatly reduced or stops due to an obstruction in the upper airway. He mentions that it’s more common in men, and the issue arises from the collapse of pharyngeal muscles, causing a blockage in the upper airways while sleeping.
He explains that the diagnosis involves a thorough assessment, including your sleep history, checking for other health conditions, and using standardised questionnaires to screen for obstructive sleep apnoea.
“In treating these patients, firstly consider positive airway pressure (PAP), if they cannot tolerate of decline offer oral appliances or upper airway modifications or positional therapy.”
Dr Mxolisi Xulu
Xulu says treating sleep apnoea involves addressing the underlying factors that contribute to the condition. He recommends avoiding habits that can worsen sleep apnoea, such as drinking alcohol or using sedatives, or losing weight and physical activity might help.
He also warns that if it is left untreated, it can have serious health consequences, including an increased risk of death due to complications.
The most common way of treating sleep apnoea, is with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. Speak to your doctor to find the correct treatment method for you.
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