Obstructive sleep apnoeaMy husband is driving me mad -- and not for the usual reasons. Every night for the past few months he's been making the most awful snoring noises.
He starts spluttering and choking in the middle of the night, wakes momentarily and rolls over and goes back to sleep, only for it to happen several more times before morning. Why has he started to do this?
There is nothing worse than trying to sleep beside someone who is a habitual snorer.
However, this seems to be a new problem and therefore could be a condition called obstructive sleep apnoea.
It often develops in middle-aged men, especially if they are overweight. Having said that, women can also suffer from it but not usually until after the menopause.
The problem can be caused by the soft palate flopping against the back of the throat. This obstructs the flow of air into the lungs.
It can also occur in people who have a large tongue, a blocked nose or even large tonsils.
Although he gets back to sleep quite easily, in the mornings he is irritable and often complains of headaches. Is this explainable by the apnoea or is he going through the male menopause?
Well, I think we can discount the male menopause. The effects of sleep apnoea include those you have described.
It can also cause daytime drowsiness and other health problems so it is vital that your husband contact his doctor to have the problem investigated. It would be useful if you could accompany him as your observations of his sleep pattern and snoring could help pinpoint a diagnosis.
Can anything be done for sleep apnoea?
Although it can be a difficult problem to treat, there are some simple measures that can help. These include losing weight if overweight - even a modest loss can be beneficial.
Encourage your husband to take some exercise; avoid sleeping on his back; alcohol should also be a no-no, as should sleeping tablets or tranquillizers unless prescribed by his doctor.
Your husband may well benefit from a specialist treatment called "continuous positive airway pressure".
This involves having to wear a close-fitting mask over the nose while sleeping.
A small air compressor gently forces air into the airways to keep them open.