With each passing year there is new research showing the sleep disorders are more prevalent and harmful than previously thought. However, we as individuals often overlook the signs and symptoms of an underlying condition that is both serious and treatable. Being aware of the common sleep conditions can help you know when to seek out medical advice and treatment to improve your sleep health.
Sufferers of obstructive sleep apnea experience a partial or complete interruption of breathing during sleep. This is caused by repeated collapse of the upper airway while sleeping. People with this condition are often tired during the day. They may also snore, wake up gasping or choking, or awake with a headache. 17% of the general population is thought to have OSA, but the prevalence is higher in men, in older people, and in those who are overweight or obese. A combination of these factors could see your chance of developing OSA reach as high as 49%.
Those with untreated OSA risk developing cardiovascular disease like heart attack, metabolic disease like diabetes, stroke, and depression. There are also the complications of being overly tired, such as decreased ability to learn and concentrate, poor performance at work, and increased chance of a motor vehicle accident.
OSA is typically diagnosed with a sleep study, which you can do at home or in a sleep lab. The best first step is to speak to your GP who can help organize the sleep study or send you to a specialist sleep physician.
If your study shows that you do have OSA, there are a number of treatment options. More mild forms of the condition can be managed by lifestyle modifications like weight loss and smoking cessation, or by a dental device called a Mandibular Advancement Splint, which pushes the jaw forward to help open the airway at night. The most effective treatment is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP machine. This works by gently blowing pressurized air into your upper airway to prevent collapse. To learn more about CPAP, click here.
Like obstructive sleep apnea, CSA causes a disruption of breathing during sleep. However, in this condition the route cause is the interruption of the brain signals that control the muscles of breathing. In additional to the fatigue that can accompany any form of sleep apnea, CSA sufferers can also wake up feeling breathless, feel short of breath while lying down (orthopnea), or have chest pain. Other medical conditions like heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia and stroke can all contribute to the development of CSA. Central sleep apnea can then cause further cardiovascular problems.
Central sleep apnea can be diagnosed with an in lab sleep study. Specialist physician involvement is important, and CSA patients should see both a cardiologist and a sleep physician to make sure their heart and sleep problems are well managed. Treatment often involves the use of a positive pressure machine like CPAP, a ventilator like bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP), or a more complex device like Adaptive Seroventilation (ASV).
Narcolepsy is a condition characterized by the uncontrollable urge to sleep during the day. While the exact cause is unknown, it is thought that the underproduction of certain brain chemicals (like hypocretin) are responsible for the disorder. Apart from attacks of sleepiness, sufferers can also experience a loss of voluntary muscle tone (cataplexy) and hallucinations that would only occur in health people as they were transitioning from wakefulness to sleep (hypnagogic hallucinations).
You are at higher risk of developing narcolepsy if you have a family history of the condition of if you have had brain injuries in the past. The chances of developing the disorder also increase with age. Sufferers often deal with personal and professional issues, including poor work performance, relationship problems, or stigma due to poor understanding of the disease. You are also at higher risk of injury when you have an episode.
Narcolepsy is diagnosed by a special type of sleep study called a Multiple Sleep Latency Test, or MSLT. This is carried out during the day and looks at how quickly you fall asleep. All patients with narcolepsy should be managed by a specialist sleep physician.
People with restless leg syndrome feel a discomfort in their lower limbs that is only relieved by moving their legs. They will move their legs around more during the transition from wakefulness to sleep and throughout the night. This causes a disruption of sleep, which leads to excessive daytime fatigue.
You are more likely to develop restless leg syndrome if you have a family history of the condition, or if you have another medical problem that effects the nervous system (e.g. peripheral neuropathy that can accompany diabetes).
You will most likely receive your diagnoses based on your description of your symptoms and a physical examination, although you may be asked to do an in-lab sleep study.
There are some medications that can be used to alleviate the symptoms. This condition is best managed by a specialist sleep physician.
If your doctor has recommended a sleep study, you might have questions - and some nerves too. It’s normal to wonder what to expect: Will it be uncomfortable? Will you be able to sleep? Rest assured, sleep studies today are designed to be as smooth and stress-free as possible, especially when done from the comfort of your own bed.
Here are the top 10 most common questions we hear — along with answers to help clear things up.
Feeling exhausted no matter how much sleep you get? Snoring heavily, or been told you stop breathing during the night? You might be showing signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) — a common but serious condition that can now be assessed from the comfort of your own home.
Feeling constantly tired, sleepy, or unfocused during the day? It might be more than just a busy schedule — these can be signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), especially if you snore, wake up gasping or choking, or experience fragmented sleep.
OSA doesn’t just affect your rest — it can increase your risk of serious health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
For many Australians, shift work isn’t just part of the job—it is the job. Whether you’re nursing through the night, driving at dawn, or closing up after midnight, getting quality sleep on an irregular schedule is no easy feat. The reality is, shift work can seriously disrupt your body’s internal clock, also known as your circadian rhythm.1 That means getting quality rest becomes more than just difficult—it can turn into a real health challenge.
Shift workers are the lifeblood of our 24-hour society, keeping hospitals, transportation systems, and essential services running around the clock. But working irregular hours comes with serious health risks—one of the most underdiagnosed being obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Whether you’re a truck driver, emergency responder, or hospitality worker, non-traditional hours can come at a serious cost to your health — especially your sleep. If you’re constantly battling fatigue, insomnia, or daytime drowsiness, you could be dealing with Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD).
If you’ve ever spent a night tossing and turning, you’re not alone. Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders, and it affects millions of Australians. Whether it’s difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up feeling unrefreshed, insomnia can take a toll—not just on your energy and mood, but also on your heart.
Could something as simple as the way you breathe at night be affecting your blood pressure?
With World Hypertension Day tomorrow, it’s the perfect time to raise awareness about one of the most overlooked contributors to high blood pressure: poor sleep—specifically, a condition called sleep apnea.
