G47: Sleep disorders

G47.3: Sleep apnoea

Sleep apnoea is a serious sleep disorder in which a person's breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This is typically caused by the throat muscles intermittently relaxing and blocking the airway during sleep, which is known as obstructive sleep apnoea. Another less common type is central sleep apnoea, where the brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. Common signs of sleep apnoea can include loud snoring, abrupt awakenings followed by gasping or choking, daytime sleepiness, and morning headache. If left untreated, it could lead to more serious health complications such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. Though the condition can affect anyone, it is more common in individuals who are overweight, older adults, and those with a family history of sleep apnoea.