😮‍💨 Men's Health

Sleep Apnoea in Nigeria

The condition hiding behind your snoring — and why it matters

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) means the airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing breathing to stop for 10–90 seconds, dozens to hundreds of times per night. The person wakes briefly each time — often unaware — and never reaches deep sleep. OSA is severely underdiagnosed in Nigeria despite being common in men over 40, women post-menopause, and people with obesity.

Signs and Symptoms

✓ Loud snoring — especially with pauses or gasping sounds

✓ Waking with a choking sensation or dry mouth

✓ Excessive daytime sleepiness — falling asleep at work, driving, or in meetings

✓ Unrefreshing sleep despite 7–8 hours

✓ Morning headaches

✓ Difficulty concentrating, poor memory

✓ Irritability and mood changes

✓ Frequent night-time urination (nocturia)

✓ Reduced libido or erectile dysfunction

Risk Factors

Obesity — the single strongest risk factor
Male sex — 2–3 times more common in men
Age over 40
Short or thick neck (collar size above 43 cm in men)
Large tongue, small jaw, or nasal polyps
Menopause — oestrogen loss increases upper airway muscle laxity
Alcohol and sedative use — relax airway muscles
Smoking
Family history of sleep apnoea

When to Seek Help

Witnessed apnoeaIf a partner or family member has seen you stop breathing during sleep, this is an urgent indication for sleep study.

Sleepiness while drivingOSA is a major cause of road traffic accidents. Do not drive until assessed and treated.

Hypertension resistant to treatmentOSA is a treatable cause of drug-resistant hypertension — always rule it out.

Any combination of snoring + daytime sleepiness + obesityHigh clinical probability — arrange sleep study without delay.

Tests & Diagnosis

🧪 Epworth Sleepiness Scale

Score above 10 suggests significant daytime sleepiness; above 16 suggests severe impairment.

🧪 STOP-BANG questionnaire

8 yes/no questions — score of 3 or more indicates high risk of OSA.

🧪 Home sleep apnoea test (HSAT)

An oximeter and airflow sensor worn at home overnight — available at some Nigerian sleep clinics. Less detailed than full study but adequate for diagnosis in most cases.

🧪 Polysomnography (PSG)

Full overnight sleep lab study — the gold standard. Available at university teaching hospitals and specialist clinics in Lagos and Abuja.

🧪 Fasting glucose, HbA1c, BP, lipids

OSA is associated with diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia — screen for all.

Treatment Options

Weight loss

Losing 10–15% of body weight reduces apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) by 50% in overweight patients. The only potentially curative treatment for mild-moderate OSA.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)

The definitive treatment — a mask worn at night that delivers pressured air to keep the airway open. Dramatically reduces daytime sleepiness, blood pressure, and cardiovascular risk within weeks. Available from specialist dealers in Lagos.

Positional therapy

If OSA is worse lying on your back, sleep on your side. Simple devices or tennis balls sewn into a shirt back can enforce side sleeping.

Avoid alcohol and sedatives at night

These relax pharyngeal muscles and worsen airway collapse.

Oral appliance (mandibular advancement device)

A dental device that moves the jaw forward, enlarging the airway. Less effective than CPAP but better tolerated by some patients.

Surgery

For specific anatomy (enlarged tonsils, adenoids, deviated septum) — selected cases only. ENT assessment needed.

Control blood pressure

OSA and hypertension potentiate each other. Treating OSA often reduces BP medication requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is snoring the same as sleep apnoea?

No — but OSA always causes snoring. Most heavy snorers do not have OSA; most OSA patients snore heavily. The distinguishing features are pauses in breathing, gasping, and daytime sleepiness. A sleep study is the only way to confirm.

Can children have sleep apnoea?

Yes — in children, the commonest cause is enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Warning signs: snoring, mouth breathing, restless sleep, poor school performance, and bedwetting. Tonsillectomy often cures it.

How much does CPAP cost in Nigeria?

CPAP machines can be a significant expense from medical equipment suppliers in Lagos and Abuja, with cost varying by brand and supplier. NHIA/HMO coverage is limited. Some teaching hospitals have rental or subsidised programmes.

Is OSA dangerous if untreated?

Yes. Untreated OSA raises risk of hypertension, heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and car accidents. People with severe untreated OSA have 2–3 times higher mortality than the general population.

Will I have to use CPAP forever?

For most people: yes, as long as they have OSA. However, significant weight loss can resolve OSA in overweight patients. A repeat sleep study after losing 15–20% of body weight can determine whether CPAP is still needed.