Buteyko for Sleep Apnoea

Breathing through the mouth during the day is unnatural; breathing through the mouth at night is even more so.

Snoring can cause health problems such as hypertension, rheumatism, heart disease and depression. These tendencies may increase as the person gets fatter, older or after over-eating or drinking alcohol. Snoring can be the precursor of a more serious, more debilitating condition.

Sleep Apnoea.  This condition may follow from snoring and is characterised by ‘stopping breathing’ for more than 10 seconds at a time during periods of sleep. There are two types of sleep apnoea; obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and central sleep apnoea (CSA).

A person with sleep apnea may have the following symptoms –

  • Mouth breathing/dry mouth or throat on waking
  • Breathlessness while exercising
  • 10 sec – 2 minute apnoeas (cessation of breath)
  • Snoring
  • Restlessness, movements during sleep of the whole body or just the legs
  • Thirst overnight and/or on waking
  • Waking tired, and feeling tiredness through the day
  • Daytime – lack of concentration and tendency to fall asleep

Normal sleep occurs in five stages: Stages 1,2,3,4, & REM (rapid eye movement). Stages 3 & 4 are the most restful and deep sleep. When a person is over-breathing, or hyperventilating, they are prevented from easily reaching the most restful and deepest sleep stages, remaining mostly in the light and easily disturbed sleep of stages 1 & 2.

If sleep apnoea is being experienced, each apnoea finishes with a gasping breath which drags the sleeper near to consciousness. They may not realise this has happened as they remain asleep. If they have a sleeping partner that hears the gasp/snore however, and may become very concerned. Many people who take our course have been persuaded to participate by their long-suffering partner!