Sleep
Respiratory rate during sleep: what is normal and what do Apple Watch readings mean?
Around 12 to 20 breaths per minute is a commonly used reference range for adults at rest. Sleep breathing varies, so this is not a strict overnight safety threshold. Breathing changes with sleep stage, and a smartwatch’s lowest recorded value is different from your average across the night. Your usual pattern and any symptoms also…
Read MoreWhy do I Wake With Night Sweats and Poor Sleep?
Waking up sweating can be caused by a warm bedroom, menopause, anxiety, medicines, alcohol or an underlying medical condition. Obstructive sleep apnoea is another possibility, particularly if you also snore, wake gasping or feel unrefreshed during the day. The pattern and accompanying symptoms help a clinician decide what to investigate. If you regularly wake drenched…
Read MoreCould 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 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…
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