Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common condition in which the airway repeatedly narrows or collapses during sleep, causing pauses in breathing and reducing oxygen levels overnight. These interruptions can lead to loud snoring, restless sleep, choking or gasping episodes and excessive daytime tiredness, even after what seems like a full night’s sleep. It occurs because the muscles that support the throat relax too much during sleep, particularly in people who are overweight, have large tonsils, nasal blockage or certain jaw and airway shapes.

Left untreated, it can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cognitive impairment and motor vehicle accidents due to fatigue. The good news is that OSA is very treatable and management may include weight loss, reducing alcohol intake, sleeping position changes, oral appliances or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP therapy) which keeps the airway open during sleep. 

Restless legs syndrome (RLS ) is a common neurological condition that causes an uncomfortable urge to move the legs, usually when resting eg while sitting quietly or trying to fall asleep. Patients often describe sensations such as crawling, tingling or aching legs which are temporarily relieved by movement. Although the exact cause is not always clear, RLS can be associated with low iron levels, kidney disease, pregnancy, certain medications or a family history of the condition. The symptoms can significantly disrupt sleep quality, leading to daytime fatigue, poor concentration and reduced quality of life. Management focuses on identifying and treating any underlying causes, improving sleep habits, reducing caffeine and alcohol intake, and sometimes using medications to treat the issue.

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological sleep disorder that affects the brain’s ability to regulate normal sleep-wake cycles, leading to excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden episodes of falling asleep throughout the day. Patients with narcolepsy may feel overwhelmingly tired despite adequate nighttime sleep and can experience symptoms such as vivid dream-like hallucinations when falling asleep or waking, temporary paralysis on waking, and in some cases, sudden muscle weakness triggered by emotions, known as cataplexy. Narcolepsy can significantly affect concentration, work, study, driving and overall quality of life. Despite this, effective treatments are available allowing most patients to achieve good symptom control and maintain a high quality of life. This can include medications, scheduled naps and lifestyle adjustments.

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder characterised by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking early, despite having adequate opportunity for sleep. Over time, poor sleep can lead to daytime symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and low mood. Insomnia may be triggered by stress, anxiety, medical conditions, medications, irregular sleep schedules or other sleep disorders. In some cases it can persist even after the original trigger has resolved. Treatment focuses on identifying contributing factors and improving sleep habits and sleep patterns. The most effective long term treatment is cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-i) which helps retrain the brain and body to achieve healthier sleep. In some cases, medications may also be used for short-term support.

Sleep testing is a safe and non-invasive way of assessing how your body functions during sleep and helps us diagnose conditions such as obstructive sleep apnoea, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy and other sleep related disorders. Depending on your symptoms, testing may be performed either at home or overnight in our sleep laboratory. During the study, small sensors are placed on the body to monitor breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate, brain activity, limb movements and sleep patterns. The test is generally painless and designed to be as comfortable as possible while collecting detailed information. The results allow us to better understand the cause of your symptoms and guide the most appropriate treatment plan to improve your sleep, daytime function and overall health.