Sleep Apnoea & Snoring
Waking up exhausted, gasping for air, or keeping your partner awake at night — these are not things you simply have to live with. Specialist ENT assessment can identify what is happening and how to treat it effectively.
A Specialist You Can Trust
Dr Vyas Prasad is a Consultant Otolaryngologist and Head & Neck Surgeon with subspecialty expertise in voice, airway, thyroid, and head and neck conditions. He brings surgical precision and clinical depth to every assessment, with a practice built on clear communication and individualised care. His approach is straightforward: understand the problem thoroughly, explain it clearly, and recommend only what is genuinely appropriate.
Why Choose Dr Prasad
Specialist ENT assessment — not a generalist opinion.
Airway evaluation informed by anatomical surgical precision.
Coordinated specialist care from diagnosis through to treatment.
Centrally located at Camden Medical Centre, Orchard.
Clear, direct communication at every stage of your journey.
Ready to Take the First Step?
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Recognising the Signs
Sleep apnoea does not always announce itself clearly. Watch for these common indicators:
Loud or Disruptive Snoring
Snoring that is audible from another room, or that your partner has noticed getting worse over time.
Witnessed Pauses in Breathing
A partner or family member has noticed you stop breathing, gasp, or choke during sleep.
Excessive Daytime Fatigue
Feeling unrefreshed after a full night's sleep, or struggling to stay alert during the day.
Morning Headaches
Waking with a headache — often caused by reduced oxygen levels during the night.
Difficulty Concentrating
Brain fog, forgetfulness, or trouble focusing at work that cannot be explained by other causes.
Frequent Night-Time Urination
Waking repeatedly to use the bathroom — a lesser-known but common symptom of sleep apnoea.
What Causes Sleep Apnoea?
Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs when the soft tissues of the upper airway — the tongue, soft palate, and throat muscles — relax too much during sleep and partially or completely block the airway. Several factors can contribute: a deviated septum or nasal polyps forcing mouth breathing; enlarged tonsils or adenoids narrowing the throat; excess soft palate tissue; a tongue that falls back during sleep; excess weight around the neck; and reduced airway muscle tone with age.
Understanding the specific cause of obstruction in each patient is the foundation of effective treatment. This is why specialist assessment matters.
What to Expect at Your Consultation
Dr Prasad takes a structured and unhurried approach to evaluating sleep-related breathing disorders, ensuring every patient receives a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation.
1
Clinical History
You will be asked in detail about your symptoms, sleep patterns, and how they affect daily life. A bed partner's observations are often valuable.
2
Airway Examination
A hands-on examination of your nose, throat, palate, tongue base, and neck to identify structural factors contributing to obstruction.
3
Nasal Endoscopy
A brief, well-tolerated procedure using a thin flexible scope to assess the nasal passages and upper airway in detail.
4
Sleep Study
Where appropriate, Dr Prasad will arrange a sleep study to measure breathing events and confirm whether OSA is present.
5
Personalised Plan
A treatment plan developed specifically around your anatomy, severity, and preferences for long-term health.
Treatment Options
There is no single solution for everyone. The right treatment depends on the cause, the severity, and your individual circumstances. Dr Prasad will discuss all relevant options with you before any decision is made.
Lifestyle Measures
For mild cases, changes such as weight reduction, adjusting sleep position, and reducing alcohol in the evening can meaningfully reduce symptom severity.
CPAP Therapy
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure is the most well-established treatment for moderate to severe OSA. A device delivers a gentle stream of pressurised air through a mask during sleep, keeping the airway open throughout the night. It is highly effective when used consistently.
Mandibular Advancement Device
A dental device worn during sleep that repositions the jaw slightly forward, reducing airway collapse. Suitable for mild to moderate OSA or for patients who cannot tolerate CPAP.
Targeted Surgical Procedures
Where obstruction has a clear anatomical cause, surgery can deliver lasting improvement. Procedures are selected based on where the obstruction lies and may include septoplasty to correct a deviated nasal septum, turbinate reduction, tonsillectomy, palate surgery, or tongue base procedures. Dr Prasad will explain which options are relevant to your anatomy and what realistic outcomes to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between snoring and sleep apnoea?
Snoring is the sound produced when airflow causes the soft tissues of the throat to vibrate during sleep and can occur without significant health consequences. Obstructive sleep apnoea is a medical condition in which the airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing breathing to stop before the brain triggers a partial arousal to reopen it. This disrupts sleep, reduces blood oxygen, and carries real long-term health risks. Loud snoring is one of the most common symptoms of OSA, but not everyone who snores has sleep apnoea.
How is sleep apnoea diagnosed?
Diagnosis requires a sleep study measuring breathing events, oxygen levels, and sleep stages during an actual night of sleep. This may be done at home or in a sleep laboratory. Dr Prasad will first assess your airway clinically, then arrange the most appropriate type of sleep testing based on your findings.
Can sleep apnoea be treated without surgery?
Yes. For many patients, CPAP therapy, a mandibular advancement device, or lifestyle changes are sufficient and highly effective. Surgery is only recommended where there is a clear anatomical cause that a targeted procedure can address. Dr Prasad will always discuss non-surgical options first.
How long is recovery after airway surgery?
Recovery depends on the specific procedure. Nasal procedures typically involve one to two weeks of congestion and reduced activity. Palate or throat procedures may involve seven to ten days of throat discomfort and a soft diet. You will receive detailed pre- and post-operative guidance specific to your procedure.
Is sleep apnoea dangerous if left untreated?
Over time, untreated moderate to severe OSA is associated with high blood pressure, increased cardiovascular risk, reduced cognitive function, and mood changes. It also significantly impairs quality of life for the patient and often their partner. Early assessment and appropriate treatment is strongly advisable.
I snore but feel fine during the day. Should I still get assessed?
Yes. Many people with sleep apnoea attribute their reduced sharpness, reliance on caffeine, or low energy to lifestyle rather than poor sleep quality. A consultation and sleep study can clarify whether anything is happening that warrants treatment — and give you peace of mind if everything is normal.
