When snoring signals health issues

LEEP apnoea is a serious yet common sleep disorder where a person's breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

- UNNIKRISHNAN S @T'Puram

This condition affects a significant number of people in India, though many remain unaware. Its prevalence is rising, especially in urban areas.

Sleep apnoea occurs when a person's airway becomes partially or fully obstructed during sleep, leading to pauses in breathing. The most common form is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), where the muscles in the throat relax too much, blocking airflow. There's also central sleep apnoea, where the brain fails to signal the muscles that control breathing, and complex sleep apnoea syndrome, which combines both forms.

Identifying sleep apnoea can be challenging since many of its symptoms occur when the person is asleep. Loud snoring is a common sign, particularly with OSA. Other symptoms include choking or gasping for air, frequent night awakenings, daytime fatigue, dry mouth, sore throat, and morning headaches.