Snoring & Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Treatment
Snoring & Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) in Adults
Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (also known as sleep apnea) in adults are common sleep disorders that disrupt restful sleep, impacting overall health and quality of life.
While snoring can often seem harmless, when associated with obstructive sleep apnea, it can lead to serious health risks. Understanding the difference and recognising symptoms early can help you access the right sleep apnea treatment to manage these conditions safely.
Understanding snoring and sleep apnoea
What is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)?
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in adults occurs when the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing brief but frequent breathing pauses called apnoeas.
These episodes can drop blood oxygen levels and are often unnoticed by the person experiencing them. While similar, snoring alone usually doesn’t cause breathing interruptions.
A less common form, known as central sleep apnea, differs by involving pauses in breathing due to the brain’s control mechanisms rather than a blocked airway.
Why it matters
Untreated OSA can significantly impact daily life, causing excessive daytime sleepiness, poor concentration, memory difficulties, and strained relationships.
Prolonged untreated sleep apnea may increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and depression. It can contribute to an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents due to reduced alertness, and long-term untreated OSA has been linked with higher overall health risks.
Establishing an effective sleep apnea treatment plan can improve overall health and wellbeing.
Signs you may have sleep apnoea
Common symptoms
Typical symptoms indicating possible obstructive sleep apnea include:
- Loud snoring
- Gasping or choking during sleep
- Frequent breathing pauses (often reported by a partner)
- Unrefreshing sleep, morning headaches, dry mouth
- Daytime sleepiness, low mood, and poor concentration
When to seek assessment
Snoring becomes a medical concern if it interferes with your sleep quality or if associated symptoms of OSA appear.
If you regularly experience disrupted sleep, loud snoring, or breathing pauses, see your GP or a sleep specialist such as an ENT surgeon.
Knowing how to diagnose sleep apnea can help you recognise when to seek assessment and treatment. Diagnosis typically involves a sleep study, which can be conducted in a sleep laboratory or at home.
Diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea
Sleep study (polysomnogram)
Overnight sleep study assessments or Polysomnograms (PSG) measure breathing patterns, oxygen levels, heart rate, and sleep patterns overnight.
These tests help identify whether you have mild sleep apnea, moderate sleep apnea, or severe sleep apnea, which guides and informs suitable treatment options. Many patients can conduct home sleep apnea testing with equipment provided for overnight use (ambulatory sleep study). Rarely are patients required to stay in a sleep laboratory overnight.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
Obstructive sleep apnoea treatment usually begins with non-surgical options, but some patients may consider obstructive sleep apnea surgery if conservative measures are not effective or tolerated. Dr Phillips is one of two ENT surgeons in Queensland and one of ten in Australia who have completed a 12 month Fellowship (additional training) in snoring and sleep apnoea surgery.
Non-surgical and conservative measures
Many patients start with alternative treatment and non-surgical options, which may include:
CPAP Therapy (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)
CPAP is the first-line treatment for moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea. A CPAP machine or PAP device uses gentle air pressure to keep your airway open during sleep and can help improve breathing and sleep quality.
Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS)
These custom-made oral appliances and mandibular advancement devices reposition the lower jaw forward slightly to help maintain an open airway. They’re usually best for mild to moderate OSA.
Lifestyle Adjustments
Simple lifestyle changes can make a significant difference, such as losing weight, reducing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, managing allergies, and adjusting your sleep position to your side instead of your back through positional therapy.
If patients cannot tolerate CPAP or find conservative measures ineffective, they may explore surgical management.
Surgical Treatment: A long-term solution
For patients who snore, struggle with CPAP or haven’t had success with conservative options, sleep apnea surgery may be an effective option for appropriately selected patients.
Our surgical treatment for sleep apnea aims to:
- Reduce or eliminate snoring
- Improve airflow during sleep
- Reduce the severity of sleep apnoea
- Enhance your energy levels, focus, and overall well-being
Each procedure is customised to your unique airway anatomy, sleep study results, and lifestyle. OSA surgery is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Dr Phillips carefully assesses each patient to determine the most suitable treatment plan.
Not everyone is a candidate for surgery.
Some patients may have medical or anatomical factors that make upper airway surgery less appropriate or effective. That’s why we conduct a thorough evaluation, which includes a detailed sleep study, an airway examination that may include drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), and a discussion of your overall medical history and goals. If surgery is not recommended, we will help you explore other tailored solutions that fit your needs.
Common Surgical Options Include:
Nasal Surgery
For patients with blocked nasal passages, surgery to correct a deviated septum or reduce enlarged turbinates can improve nasal airflow and make treatments such as CPAP and MAS more comfortable and easier to tolerate. Procedures may include septoplasty, turbinate reduction or open septorhinoplasty, depending on the underlying nasal anatomy.
Throat and Tongue Procedures
Techniques focusing on the soft palate and throat muscles, such as Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), Coblation tongue channelling, or other tongue base surgeries can help open the airway and reduce obstruction by repositioning, removing or reshaping obstructive tissue.
Multilevel Surgery
In some cases, combining procedures at different levels of the airway offers the best results for treating sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnoea surgery types offered by Dr Phillips
Surgical management varies depending on the findings from your sleep study and upper airway examination, which helps determine whether obstructive sleep apnoea surgery is appropriate.
Additional factors that influence snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea
Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea can be influenced by many factors beyond airway anatomy alone. These considerations help guide assessment and determine which treatments may be appropriate.
Risk factors
Several risk factors can contribute to sleep-disordered breathing, including obesity, aging, family history, nasal congestion, a deviated nasal septum and reduced tone in the upper airway muscles during sleep. These issues can lead to repeated episodes where you stop breathing briefly, causing fragmented and poor sleep.
Different types of sleep apnoea
Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs when the upper airway collapses during sleep, while central sleep apnoea is caused by reduced breathing signals from the brain rather than physical blockage. Some patients have severe obstructive sleep apnoea, with frequent stop-breathing events throughout the night, which usually requires more structured treatment planning with a sleep specialist or sleep physician.
When other treatments may be discussed
In some cases, additional therapies may be considered as part of broader sleep apnoea management. Soft tissue airway surgery, such as UPPP, tongue reduction surgery, tonsilectomy or midline glossectomy, may be performed by an ENT surgeon with additional specialist training in sleep apnoea surgery. Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) is a form of jaw surgery performed by a maxillofacial surgeon. Sleep physicians may be involved in assessing complex cases and coordinating care when these additional surgical options are being considered. Bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery may also be explored when obesity plays a major role in sleep-disordered breathing.
Surgical options for structural airway problems
For some adults, nasal or sinus obstruction can contribute to snoring or affect sleep quality. Procedures such as sinus surgery may improve nasal airflow and sleep quality, but they do not typically reduce or resolve obstructive sleep apnoea on their own. Upper airway surgery may be appropriate for selected patients with obstructive sleep apnoea when conservative measures have not been effective. Treatment decisions depend on sleep study findings, airway anatomy and the individual’s overall health and medical history.
Supporting better sleep and recovery
Managing obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) can significantly improve your daily energy, mood, and overall health. Every patient’s situation is unique, and treatment plans are carefully individualised. Simple lifestyle changes like maintaining a healthy weight, sleeping on your side, and avoiding alcohol consumption close to bedtime can support better sleep outcomes.
Book a consultation
If you snore loudly, feel tired despite a full night’s sleep, or suspect you may have sleep apnea, contact us to book a consultation with Dr Phillips at his Gold Coast practice, and he can help clarify the cause and explore treatment options suited to your needs.
Snoring & Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Treatment – FAQs
What are the common signs of sleep apnea in adults?
Sleep apnea can present in different ways. Many people notice loud snoring, breathing pauses reported by a partner, waking unrefreshed, morning headaches or increased daytime sleepiness. These symptoms may indicate sleep-disordered breathing and usually warrant a clinical assessment.
How is obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed?
OSA diagnosis is made through an overnight sleep study, which measures breathing patterns, blood oxygen levels and sleep stages. Tests may be performed using home sleep apnea testing or in a sleep laboratory, depending on the clinical situation. The results help diagnose sleep apnea, determine whether the condition is mild, moderate or severe and guide appropriate treatment options.
How is the severity of obstructive sleep apnea measured?
Severity is assessed using the apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI), which records how many times breathing partially or completely stops per hour of sleep during a sleep study. The number of events per hour helps classify obstructive sleep apnoea as mild, moderate or severe.
- 5 to 15 breathing interruptions per hour – mild sleep apnea
- 15 to 30 breathing interruptions per hour – moderate sleep apnea
- More than 30 breathing interruptions per hour – severe sleep apnea
These categories guide treatment recommendations, along with your symptoms, airway anatomy and overall health.
How do I book an appointment with a snoring or obstructive sleep apnea surgeon?
To see Dr Phillips, you’ll need a referral from your GP or another specialist. Once your referral is received, our team will arrange an appointment at one of our Gold Coast clinics. Many people seeking help for snoring or sleep apnea on the Gold Coast start with an overnight sleep study arranged through their GP, and we can guide you through the next steps once the referral is in place.
Do lifestyle changes help with sleep apnea?
Lifestyle adjustments can support sleep apnea treatment. Maintaining a healthy weight, reducing alcohol consumption close to bedtime, improving sleep position, quitting smoking, and addressing nasal congestion may all help improve sleep quality. These measures are often combined with other treatments recommended after assessment.
When is a CPAP machine recommended for sleep apnea?
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP therapy) is commonly used as a first-line treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea. A respiratory sleep physician can diagnose and manage sleep disorders, prescribe CPAP and assess conditions such as central or complex sleep apnoea. Your GP may refer you to a respiratory sleep physician, particularly if you have moderate to severe sleep apnoea, another sleep disorder or hold a commercial driver’s licence. CPAP helps keep the airway open by delivering gentle air pressure through a mask.
What other non-surgical treatments are available if I cannot tolerate CPAP?
Options may include mandibular advancement devices that reposition the lower jaw, targeted lifestyle changes or managing contributing nasal or airway issues. Mandibular advancement devices are best custom-fitted and made by a dentist with appropriate training and experience in treating sleep apnoea. The most suitable treatment depends on the results of your sleep study and overall health.
When is surgery considered for snoring or obstructive sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnoea surgery may be considered only after appropriate assessment, particularly when non-surgical treatments have not been effective or tolerated. For OSA or snoring, surgeries and procedures focus on improving airflow through the nasal passages, soft palate or tongue base. The choice of procedure depends on individual airway anatomy and findings from your sleep study and an appropriate airway assessment.
Can nasal surgery improve sleep apnea or snoring?
Nasal surgery may improve airflow and sleep quality and, in some cases, increase time spent in deep (slow wave) and REM sleep. It may also make treatments such as CPAP or oral appliance therapy more comfortable and effective. It is not a standalone treatment for obstructive sleep apnea in most patients, but can form part of a broader management plan.
Does snoring always mean I have sleep apnea?
Not always. Snoring is common and can occur without breathing pauses. However, loud or persistent snoring, particularly when paired with daytime tiredness or witnessed breathing interruptions, may indicate obstructive sleep apnea. An assessment can help clarify the cause.
What is a “sleep apnoea specialist”?
The term “sleep apnoea specialist” is commonly used by patients, but it isn’t a formal medical title in Australia. Sleep disorders are usually managed by several clinicians, including GPs and respiratory specialists. Respiratory specialists who have completed additional training in sleep medicine may work as sleep physicians, particularly for diagnosing and managing sleep disorders. ENT surgeons become involved when nasal or upper airway anatomy is contributing to snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea, or when surgical treatment is being considered.
Dr Phillips is one of only two ENT surgeons in Queensland and one of ten in Australia who have completed additional specialist training in snoring and sleep apnoea surgery. He provides assessment and surgical management for adults with airway-related snoring and sleep apnoea as part of this shared-care approach.