Sleep Apnoea Treatment at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Juhu
CritiCare Asia Hospitals in Juhu, Mumbai, provides diagnosis and treatment for sleep apnoea, a condition in which breathing pauses during sleep. These pauses can last from a few seconds to over a minute and often occur dozens of times a night without the person being fully aware of it, which is part of why sleep apnoea frequently goes undiagnosed for years. Our pulmonology team evaluates the condition through a combination of clinical history and sleep-specific testing, since the impact of sleep apnoea reaches well beyond disrupted sleep and can affect heart health, mental clarity, and overall quality of life if left untreated. Visit our Department of Pulmonology for complete sleep apnoea treatment in Juhu, Mumbai.
Understanding Sleep Apnoea
Sleep apnoea occurs in a few different forms, though obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is by far the most common. In OSA, the muscles at the back of the throat relax excessively during sleep, causing the airway to narrow or collapse and temporarily block airflow. The brain responds by briefly waking the person, often without full consciousness, to reopen the airway - a cycle that can repeat throughout the night and prevents the deep, restorative sleep the body needs. A less common form, central sleep apnoea, involves the brain failing to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing, rather than a physical blockage.
Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnoea
Common sleep apnoea symptoms include:
- Loud, persistent snoring, often noticed by a partner before the person themselves
- Choking or gasping sounds during sleep
- Pauses in breathing witnessed by someone sharing the room
- Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Morning headaches
- Excessive daytime sleepiness, even after a full night in bed
- Difficulty concentrating or irritability during the day
- Waking up frequently during the night without a clear reason
Causes and Risk Factors of Sleep Apnoea
- Excess body weight, which increases soft tissue around the airway
- A naturally narrow airway, enlarged tonsils, or certain jaw structures
- Age, with risk increasing in middle age and beyond
- Family history of sleep apnoea
- Smoking, which increases airway inflammation and fluid retention
- Alcohol use or sedative medication, both of which relax throat muscles further
- Nasal congestion or chronic sinus issues that make breathing through the nose harder
- Underlying heart or neurological conditions, more relevant to central sleep apnoea
Speak to the best pulmonologists at our Department of Pulmonology to know your risk.
Diagnosis of Sleep Apnoea
Diagnosis of this sleep disorder usually starts with a conversation about symptoms, and a partner or family member's account often proves useful here - they're the ones who've actually witnessed the pauses, gasps, or loud snoring during sleep. From there, a sleep study (polysomnography) confirms the picture. It tracks breathing, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and brain activity overnight, either at a dedicated sleep lab or through a home monitoring device when a full lab study isn't necessary. What comes out of this isn't just a yes-or-no on sleep apnoea - it also establishes severity, and that number drives what treatment gets recommended next.
Treatment Approach for Sleep Apnoea
How sleep apnoea gets treated comes down to severity and what's causing the obstruction in the first place. Milder cases often respond to lifestyle changes alone; more significant obstruction needs snoring treatment with a device or, occasionally, surgery.
- CPAP Therapy
a mask-delivered stream of continuous positive airway pressure that keeps the airway open through the night; still the standard for moderate to severe OSA - Oral Appliances
custom devices that shift the jaw or tongue forward, useful for milder cases or for patients who can't tolerate CPAP - Weight Management
even a modest drop in body weight often eases symptoms considerably when excess weight is part of the problem - Positional Therapy
simple strategies to avoid back-sleeping, since that position tends to worsen obstruction for many patients - Surgical Options
reserved for cases with a clear anatomical cause, such as enlarged tonsils or a structural airway defect - Treatment of Nasal Obstruction
clearing chronic congestion or correcting structural nasal issues that make nighttime nasal breathing difficult
Consult sleep apnoea specialists in Juhu at CritiCare Asia hospitals to understand your care options.
Preventive measures for Sleep Apnoea
- Keep Weight in a Healthy Range
less soft tissue around the airway generally means fewer symptoms - Go Easy on Alcohol and Sedatives, Particularly at Night
both relax throat muscles further, raising the odds of airway collapse - Favour Side-Sleeping
the airway is less prone to narrowing in this position than lying flat on the back - Stay on Top of Nasal Congestion
clear passages make for easier breathing right through the night - Steer Clear of Smoking
it inflames the airway and encourages fluid retention, both of which worsen apnoea - Keep Sleep Timing Consistent
a steady schedule supports better sleep quality overall and can take the edge off mild symptoms
Sleep Apnoea Treatment at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Juhu
Sleep apnoea is often under-recognised because the person experiencing it isn't awake to notice the breathing pauses themselves, which is why our team pays close attention to reported symptoms like daytime sleepiness and morning headaches alongside any observations from a partner or family member. Where sleep apnoea coexists with other conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, care is coordinated across specialities, since untreated sleep apnoea can make those conditions harder to manage.
Loud snoring, witnessed pauses in breathing, or persistent daytime tiredness despite a full night's sleep are all reasons to get evaluated rather than to treat them as minor inconveniences. Consult our sleep apnoea doctors in Mumbai at CritiCare Asia Hospitals for complete diagnosis and care.