Other common conditions

Several common conditions can impact the quality of sleep, including:

• Obstructive sleep apnoea 

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a relatively common condition, particularly among men aged between 30 and 60. With OSA, the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep, causing repeated interruption to the person’s breathing. As a result, oxygen levels in the blood fall, which triggers the brain to wake the person up. This may occur many times during the night. 

The most common symptoms of OSA include breathing stopping and starting, loud snoring, waking frequently and repeated periods where breathing is interrupted by gasping, snorting or choking. Sufferers may feel drowsy the following day, have poor memory or difficulty concentrating, and be more prone to headaches, mood swings, irritability and depression.

If someone has any of the main symptoms of OSA, they should be referred to a GP.

• Restless legs syndrome 

Affecting around one in 10 people in the UK, and twice as many women as men, restless legs syndrome is characterised by an unpleasant crawling or creeping sensation in the feet, calves and thighs, resulting in an overwhelming desire to move the legs. 

Symptoms are often worse in the evening and may include involuntary jerking or twitching of the limbs. In most cases, there is no obvious cause, although some sufferers have an underlying health condition such as iron deficiency anaemia or kidney failure. Around one in five pregnant women suffer in the last trimester of pregnancy, but symptoms often disappear after the baby is born.

Adopting good sleep habits, quitting smoking and exercising regularly may help mild cases. Referral to a GP may be needed for more severe cases.