Samantha Backway
Specialist Sleep Nurse, Great Western Hospital and Chairman, Hope2Sleep Charity
Diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnoea, which is common in snorers, is crucial to improving mental and physical wellbeing for sufferers.
In my 13 years as a sleep specialist nurse, I have met many people who were unaware that they were suffering with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Left untreated it can lead to serious health problems such as high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and heart attacks. It can also have a detrimental effect on our mental and emotional health. The symptoms of OSA can disrupt and affect your everyday life.
Signs and symptoms
Very often the person suffering with OSA is unaware that they are even suffering from the condition. It is generally the bed partner who might be more aware of what you are doing when you are asleep.
My own husband denied having OSA as he was not aware of his extreme snoring and that he was stopping breathing. He only believed it after I recorded him! He thought his daytime symptoms were because he was working long hours.
The symptoms of OSA can disrupt and affect your everyday life.
Night-time symptoms include:
- Loud snoring
- Stopping breathing or struggling to breath
- Choking or gasping
- Jerky body movements and restless sleep
- Waking up a lot during the night (although not everyone does this)
- Often frequent bathroom trips
Day-time symptoms include:
- Waking up unrefreshed
- Falling asleep or feeling sleepy during normal activities, such as whilst watching TV, in meetings or even during conversations
- Morning headaches
- Difficulty concentrating and feeling groggy
- Feeling depressed, anxious or irritable
- Changes in mood
- Poor co-ordination
- Loss of sex drive
Treating patients and seeing positive changes
Seeing so many patients, including my own husband’s, health improve when treated with the gold standard therapy of CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) for their OSA is wonderful. I have patients who say: “I have saved their lives”, “life changing” and “you have saved my marriage” and my favourite is… “you have given me my husband or partner back”.
Therefore, it is my passion to raise awareness, I am delighted to be the Chairman of the Hope2Sleep Charity, and being a Sleep Specialist Nurse at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, helping and supporting patients through their journey to better physical, mental and physical health is so rewarding.
If you suspect that you may have OSA leaving you at risk of other linked physical and mental health conditions, please see your GP and get referred to a sleep clinic for assessment!
