Corpus
Respiratory

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Obstructive sleep apnoea causes the airway to repeatedly narrow or collapse during sleep, briefly interrupting breathing many times a night. It fragments sleep quality even when the person doesn't fully wake, and is linked to cardiovascular risk if untreated.

By The Corpus Atlas Editorial TeamUpdated Last reviewed How we source this

Symptoms

  • Loud snoring
  • Witnessed breathing pauses
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Morning headaches

Risk factors

  • Excess body weight
  • Neck circumference
  • Nasal congestion
  • Alcohol before bed

Prevention

  • Maintaining healthy body weight
  • Side-sleeping
  • Limiting alcohol before bed

Lifestyle management

  • Sleep study for diagnosis
  • CPAP therapy where prescribed
  • Positional therapy

Related anatomy

Medical disclaimer

This page is for general education and does not replace personalised medical advice. If you have concerning symptoms, or before starting a new supplement, medication or exercise programme, speak with a qualified healthcare professional.