Sleep

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…

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,…

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…

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…