Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)?

Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs when there are repeated episodes of cessation of breathing during sleep. This can lead to a range of problems, including excessive daytime tiredness, as well as long-term health issues.

What causes Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?

Obstruction of breathing during sleep can occur due to a number of reasons. There may be blockage at a number of sites along the airway. In particular, as soft tissue relaxes during sleep, a narrowed airway may be prone to closure, which leads to apnoea (stopping breathing), or snoring, due to vibration of tissue when air passes through.

FAQs about Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

What are the treatment options for sleep apnoea?

The first step is to quantify the extent of the problem, which your GP or Respiratory Physician can arrange for you. This is usually in the form of various questionnaires about your symptoms, as well as a formal sleep study. This will help to decide on the appropriate strategies for treatment.

Treatment options include:

  • Lifestyle management - losing weight and minimising alcohol consumption (as this relaxes the airway soft tissues, leading to collapse)

  • CPAP - a machine which uses air pressure via a nasal or face mask, to push open the airway

  • Mandibular advancement splint - a mouthguard-type of apparatus that pulls your lower jaw forward to open the airway

  • Ear/Nose/Throat Surgery - including adeno-tonsillectomy, palatal surgery, or tongue base ablation - to remove any soft-tissue airway obstruction

  • Orthognathic surgery - where one or both jaws, and sometimes additionally the chin (known as a genioplasty) are brought forward, in turn pulling the muscles and soft tissues attached to the jaws forward, and opening the airway.

Orthognathic Surgery has been shown in large international studies to be a reliable and highly effective long-term solution for obstructive sleep apnoea.

Your surgeon will discuss further with you, regarding the risks and benefits of surgery, as well as your suitability for a procedure. In some but not all cases, orthodontic treatment (braces) may also be required.