Posts by Dr John Chinegwundoh
Could Sleep Apnoea Explain Poor Sleep and Daytime Tiredness?
If you sleep seven or eight hours and still wake unrefreshed, obstructive sleep apnoea is an important possibility to consider. It can go unrecognised for years because the breathing disturbances happen while you are asleep, often without any memory of them. Yes, sleep apnoea can explain poor sleep and daytime tiredness. However, several other conditions…
Read MoreWhy Do I Snore? Causes & Assessment
The short answer Snoring is the sound of soft tissues vibrating in your upper airway during sleep. It happens when the airway narrows and airflow makes those tissues vibrate. Snoring is common and does not always mean you have a medical condition. However, it should be assessed if someone has noticed pauses in your breathing,…
Read MoreCan Lack of Sleep Cause Weight Gain? When to Consider a Sleep Assessment | Chest Doctor London
Yes, regularly getting too little sleep can contribute to weight gain. Sleep loss can influence appetite, eating patterns and activity levels, making weight management more difficult. However, it does not affect everyone in the same way, and weight gain alone does not diagnose a sleep disorder. If weight gain accompanies loud snoring, witnessed breathing pauses…
Read MoreCycling and Air Pollution in London: A Chest Doctor’s Guide
Cycling in London can expose you to traffic pollution that irritates your airways and worsens existing lung conditions. Because you breathe more heavily during exercise, you may inhale a greater dose of pollutants. For most people, regular cycling still offers health benefits despite urban air pollution. The practical priorities are reducing exposure and recognising symptoms…
Read MorePoor sleep, tiredness and breathlessness: are they linked?
Yes, poor sleep, tiredness and breathlessness can be linked. Sleep apnoea can interrupt breathing overnight and cause daytime tiredness. Lung conditions can disturb sleep, while anaemia or heart problems may cause fatigue and shortness of breath. These symptoms need assessment rather than an assumption that you simply need more sleep. For patients seeking a respiratory…
Read MoreCoughing Up Bright Red Blood with Mucus or Blood in Phlegm?
Coughing up blood always needs to be assessed. That includes a single streak in your phlegm, and it includes times when you feel otherwise well. Common explanations include a chest infection or irritation from heavy coughing. Other causes can be more serious, and there is no reliable way to tell the difference at home. A…
Read MoreTests for Unexplained Breathlessness in London and Surrey
Tests for unexplained breathlessness often start with blood tests, an ECG, a chest X-ray and spirometry. Depending on the findings, further investigations may include detailed lung function tests, an echocardiogram or chest CT. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) can help when symptoms remain unexplained, particularly during activity. You will not necessarily need every test. This guide…
Read MoreWhy Do I Keep Getting Chest Infections? | Dr John Chinegwundoh
Getting chest infections repeatedly is not bad luck or a weak constitution. Healthy lungs are very good at clearing the bacteria and viruses everybody breathes in daily. When infections keep taking hold, it usually means one of those defences is not working properly, and identifying which one is what breaks the cycle. Two or more…
Read MoreChest Infection vs Pneumonia: Explained by Dr John
Pneumonia is a type of chest infection, not a separate illness. Chest infection is the general term for an infection in the lungs or airways. Pneumonia is the more serious form, where the infection reaches the tiny air sacs deep in the lung rather than staying in the airways above them. So if your GP…
Read MoreWhen Does a Persistent Cough Need Investigation?
Persistent Cough: When to Investigate
Read More