Sleep Apnoea Treatment at CritiCare Hospitals, Juhu
Sleep apnoea causes breathing to stop and start repeatedly through the night, often without the person realising it's happening. These pauses can occur dozens of times an hour, briefly waking the body each time even when there's no memory of it come morning. What triggers the pauses depends on the type of sleep apnoea involved. And the effects of that broken sleep don't stay contained to the night - persistent fatigue during the day is common, and left unaddressed, sleep apnoea has also been linked to more serious concerns like heart problems. Trust doctors at CritiCare Asia Hospitals to offer comprehensive sleep apnoea treatment in Juhu.
Types of Sleep Apnoea
- Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)
the more common form, caused by the throat muscles relaxing and narrowing or blocking the airway during sleep - Central sleep apnoea
a less common type, where the brain temporarily fails to signal the breathing muscles at all, unrelated to airway blockage
Causes and Risk Factors
Excess weight, particularly around the neck, narrows the airway and is one of the strongest risk factors for obstructive sleep apnoea. A naturally narrow airway, enlarged tonsils, or certain jaw structures also contribute. Age and being male both raise risk, though sleep apnoea affects women too, sometimes going undiagnosed for longer as a result. Alcohol use and smoking relax the airway muscles further, worsening symptoms. Central sleep apnoea, by contrast, is more often linked to underlying heart or neurological conditions rather than airway structure.
Symptoms and Signs of Sleep Apnoea
Excess weight, particularly around the neck, narrows the airway and is one of the strongest risk factors for obstructive sleep apnoea. A naturally narrow airway, enlarged tonsils, or certain jaw structures also contribute. Age and being male both raise risk, though sleep apnoea affects women too, sometimes going undiagnosed for longer as a result. Alcohol use and smoking relax the airway muscles further, worsening symptoms. Central sleep apnoea, by contrast, is more often linked to underlying heart or neurological conditions rather than airway structure.
Symptoms and Signs of Sleep Apnoea
Loud, persistent snoring is the most recognisable sign, but it's rarely the full picture.
- Witnessed pauses in breathing during sleep, usually noticed by a partner rather than the person themselves
- Gasping or choking sounds while asleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness, despite what feels like a full night's sleep
- Morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, and irritability
- Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
Because many of these signs happen during sleep, sleep apnoea often goes unnoticed until a partner raises the concern, or daytime symptoms become hard to ignore. Consult sleep apnoea specialists in Juhu to get evaluated.
How is Sleep Apnoea Diagnosed?
A sleep study, known clinically as polysomnography, remains the gold standard for diagnosis. Overnight, it tracks breathing patterns, oxygen levels, and the different stages of sleep, building a clear picture of whether apnoea is present and just how severe it's become. Some people go through this in a dedicated sleep lab; others can manage it with a home-based monitoring device instead. Alongside the sleep apnoea test, an ENT examination looks for anything structural that might be feeding the problem - enlarged tonsils, a deviated septum, or another form of airway blockage.
Treatment Approach for Sleep Apnoea
What treatment looks like depends entirely on how severe the condition is and what's driving it. Mild cases often respond well to simple lifestyle changes - losing excess weight, cutting back on alcohol, switching from back-sleeping to side-sleeping. Once sleep apnoea reaches a moderate or severe level, CPAP therapy becomes the standard approach: a steady stream of air, delivered through a mask worn overnight, keeps the airway from collapsing during sleep. Surgery enters the picture only in specific circumstances - when a clear structural blockage has been identified, and CPAP either isn't tolerated or isn't working. It's a later-stage option, not where treatment typically begins.
Health Risks of Untreated Sleep Apnoea
Ignoring sleep apnoea costs more than a good night's rest. Each time oxygen levels drop, the cardiovascular system takes a hit, and over time, untreated obstructive sleep apnoea has been tied to a greater risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. There's a daytime cost too - persistent sleepiness makes accidents, especially while driving, more likely, and the condition tends to chip away at mood, memory, and everyday quality of life far more than most people expect from something they'd initially dismissed as "just snoring." Reach out to sleep apnoea doctors in Mumbai at CritiCare Asia Hospitals for more assistance.
Sleep Apnoea Treatment at CritiCare Hospitals, Juhu
The Department of ENT at CritiCare Asia Hospitals evaluates suspected sleep apnoea through a combination of clinical history, physical examination, and sleep study - based diagnosis to confirm both the presence and severity of the condition. Treatment planning starts with identifying whether the cause is airway-related, positional, or linked to broader health factors, since that distinction shapes everything that follows. For most patients, management begins with lifestyle changes and CPAP therapy; surgical evaluation is reserved for cases where a clear structural obstruction is present, and other measures haven't provided adequate relief. Given the cardiovascular and cognitive risks tied to untreated sleep apnoea, the team also emphasises timely diagnosis over prolonged self-monitoring. Concerned about your sleep, or has a partner mentioned pauses in your breathing at night? Speak to the best sleep specialists in Mumbai at CritiCare Asia Hospitals for further assistance.