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Welcome to
Sleep Studies Australia

Suite 1 / 178 Cambridge Street
Wembley
571 Canning Highway  Attadale     PO Box 663, Applecross
WA 6953
Phone. 08 9329 9404
Fax: 08 9329 9525

 

 

About Sleep

People need approximately 8hrs of sleep a day. There are many contributing factors as to why someone would not get the recommended sleeping time.

What is snoring

  • Snoring is a sleep and breathing disorder.
  • It occurs when the breathing passage is partially obstructed by a narrowing of the upper airways.
  • During sleep, the muscles of the upper airway relax, producing noisy breathing through the mouth and nose.
  • The actual snoring noise is produced by a vibration of the tissues in the throat.

What factors contribute to snoring?

Snoring may affect a large percentage of the population from time to time and up to 30% of the population are habitual snorers.

Some of the factors affecting why people snore include

  • Age - as you get older, our muscle tone in the tissues of the throat is reduced;
  • Overweight/Obesity - collections of fat may compress and narrow the throat;
  • Abnormal nasal anatomy - such as deviated nasal septum and nasal polyps;
  • Enlarged tonsils or adenoids;
  • Alcohol and certain medication such as tranquilisers or sleeping tablets;
  • Sleeping on your back;
  • Stress, overwork or overeating - Exaggerate conditions leading to snoring, producing over-relaxation of airway muscles and tissues; and
  • Smoking - though it is not a direct cause of snoring, smoking may contribute by producing excess mucus, which causes the membranes in the throat to swell and restrict the air passages.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a serious and potentially life threatening condition characterised by:

1. Repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep due to collapse of the upper airway,

2. Usually accompanied by a reduction in oxygen levels in the blood, and

 3.   Followed by an awakening in an attempt to breathe.

 

 

 


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