Introduction: Sleep disordered breathing

The American Thoracic Society has described Sleep Disordered Breathing as follows:

“Sleep-disordered breathing’ is an umbrella term for several conditions in which partial or complete cessation of breathing occurs many times throughout the night, resulting in daytime sleepiness or fatigue that interferes with a person’s ability to function and reduces quality of life. Symptoms may include snoring, pauses in breathing described by bed partners, and disturbed sleep. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), which is by far the most common form of sleep disordered breathing, is associated with many other adverse health consequences, including an increased risk of death.”

The following short videos provide information on sleep disordered breathing, snoring, and sleep apnoea.

The following video is titled: Understanding sleep disordered breathing.

The following video is titled: Wake Up’ to the possible risk factors of heavy snoring. It features Professor Melvyn Rubenfire, Director of Preventative Cardiology at the University of Michigan.

The following video features sleep specialist Dr. Ralph Pascualy and is titled: Why is snoring bad for your health?

In the following short video, American TV host Dr. Robert “Bob” Overholt interviews sleep specialist Dr. Christopher Nolte and asks him the question: Why do people snore?  

The following video from the Patient Education Institute provides a good introduction to Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

In the following video, Professor Russell Foster gives a very interesting and informative presentation titled ‘Why do we sleep?’

In the following video, sleep specialist Dr. Lawrence Epstein discusses the adverse impacts which sleep deprivation (in terms of quantity and/or quality) can have on health.

In the following video Dr. Ari Klapholz answers the question ‘Why is sleep important?’   

In the following podcast link, Dr. Chris Williams explains what you can do to give yourself the best chance of a good night’s sleep.

Reference

Schraufnagel D (ed), 2010 Breathing in America: Diseases, Progress, and Hope, American Thoracic Society

Buteyko Breathing Clinics (Dublin and County Wicklow)