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Do you snore loudly or wake up gasping for air in the middle of the night? You might be dealing with a condition called sleep apnea that affects millions of people worldwide. It can take a toll on your health and energy levels. But don’t worry. In this blog, we will discuss what sleep apnea is, its symptoms, causes, and how chiropractic care in Singapore can help.
What is Sleep Apnea?
It is a common sleep disorder that repeatedly pause and starts your breathing while you are asleep. These interruptions, called apneic events, can happen 20-30 times in an hour, and each event may last for a few seconds to a minute.
During these interruptions, you are unable to breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. As a result, your mind wakes you up, so you can start breathing again. These frequent awakenings at night prevent you from getting a deep, restorative sleep, causing sleepiness and other problems.
You might be surprised to know that sleep apnea affects up to 30 million Americans. If left untreated, sleep apnea can put stress on your heart and impact your quality of life.
Sleep Apnea Types
Experts have classified sleep apnea into three types based on its causes. These include:
1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
It is the most common type of sleep apnea that affects up to one billion people worldwide. Obstructive sleep apnea causes the temporary episode of either partial or complete blockage of the upper airway. It occurs when muscles in the back of your throat relax too much, thus blocking the flow of air into and out of lungs.
This obstruction of the airway leads to snoring. People with obstructive sleep apnea wake up during an apneic event and make an effort to breathe. They engage their throat muscles and take deep breaths, resulting in sounds like choking and snorting.
2. Central Sleep Apnea
It is less common as compared to obstructive sleep apnea. Stats show that less than one percent of people have central sleep apnea. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, there is no physical blockage of the air passageway.
It occurs as a result of a miscommunication between the brain and muscles that control breathing. As a result, your breathing may become shallower, and you may experience temporary pauses in breathing. In central sleep apnea, your body doesn’t even try to breathe for short periods during sleep.
3. Complex or Mixed Sleep Apnea
As the name indicates, this condition is a combination of above -mentioned types. People with mixed sleep apnea experience both temporary blockage of airway and brain signal failure during sleep.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Symptoms of sleep apnea may often go unnoticed and are often first observed by your bed partner. They may vary from person to person and can significantly impact your daily life. These include:
- Loud, frequent, and disruptive snoring (not everyone who snores has sleep apnea)
- Restless sleep accompanied by frequent awakenings, or sudden gasps of air
- Sounds like choking or gasping during sleep
- Dry mouth and sore throat upon waking
- Waking up frequently during the night with the urge to urinate
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Morning headaches due to low oxygen levels during sleep
- Mood changes, such as irritability due to poor sleep quality
- Trouble concentrating
- Night sweats
- Sexual dysfunction
- Fatigue during the day
- Dizziness upon waking
- Chest pain at night (more common in central sleep apnea)
Sleep apnea Risk factors
Sleep apnea is a complex disorder that is influenced by a variety of biological and environmental factors. These risk factors are different for obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
Here are the risk factors that increase your chance of developing obstructive sleep apnea:
- Obesity: Studies show that two-thirds of the OSA patients are obese or overweight. Excess weight around the upper throat narrows the breathing passageway, thus increasing your chances of having OSA.
- Sex: Males are more likely to develop OSA than female.
- Age: the risk for the development of OSA increases with age.
- Anatomical Features: Some structural features, large tonsils, neck or tongue can narrow the circumference of your upper airway. This increases the risk of airway blockage while you are asleep.
- Smoking: Some studies point out that smoking increases the likelihood of getting obstructive sleep apnea.
- Genetics: People with a family history of OSA are more likely to develop the disease.
- Hormonal Imbalance: Some studies suggest that hormonal imbalance, such as underactive or overactive thyroid, can increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea.
Risk factors for central sleep apnea include:
- Brain Injury: Stroke, brain injury, or damage to the brainstem and spinal cord can disrupt breathing control and contribute to the development of CSA.
- Age: People above the age of 65 are at increased risk of developing central sleep apnea.
- Certain Medications: Use of opioids and certain medications, such as morphine and pethidine, can suppress respiratory drive and increase the risk of CSA.
- High Altitude: Sleeping at high altitude is likely to cause central sleep apnea due to changes in oxygen levels.
Sleep Apnea Complications
Sleep apnea is not just about snoring or feeling groggy in the morning. It can have far-reaching effects on your health. Some complications of sleep apnea include:
- Cardiovascular Problems, such as arrhythmias, pulmonary hypertension, and an increased risk of stroke.
- Metabolic disorders, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes
- Impaired cognitive function
- Mood disturbances
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Increased risk of car accidents due to drowsy driving
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
Getting a proper diagnosis is the first step towards better sleep quality and health. Your healthcare provider will diagnose sleep apnea through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and sleep tests.
Your doctor will start by asking if you have these symptoms, such as loud snoring, fatigue during the day, and waking up gasping for air. He may also ask your bed partner if they have noticed any unusual breathing patterns while you sleep.
Further, they may order certain sleep apnea tests to confirm the diagnosis. This can be done in two ways. Your doctor might suggest polysomnography at the sleep center. This is considered the gold standard test for diagnosing sleep apnea. You would stay the night at a sleep lab, where technicians would attach the sensor to monitor your:
- Breathing pattern
- Oxygen levels
- Heart rate
- Sleep position
- Muscle and eye movement
The other option is a home sleep apnea test for people who are suspected to have severe obstructive sleep apnea. In this test, you will wear a device that will track your sleeping pattern, and your healthcare professional will interpret the data. While this test is convenient, it may miss out on some details, so an in-lab study might be needed if results are unclear.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
The goal of treatment is to reduce the number of breathing interruptions and improve the quality of life. Your healthcare professional might recommend these treatment options based on the severity and type of sleep apnea.
1. Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Therapy
Health experts usually recommend PAP to almost all patients with obstructive sleep apnea. It delivers pressurized air to keep your airway open through a machine. There are usually three types of PAP machines.
CPAP Machine:
It provides continuous positive air pressure through your nose or mouth to keep your breathing passageway open.
APAP Machine:
It stands for automatic positive airway pressure. As the name indicates, it automatically adjusts air pressure based on a person’s breathing patterns through the night.
BIPAP Machine:
BIPAP stands for bilevel positive air pressure. It delivers two types of pressure, higher when you inhale and lower when you exhale. It is helpful for people who find it hard to breathe out against the constant pressure of a CPAP.
2. Oral Appliance
Your healthcare professional might recommend you wear oral appliances, like mouth guards. They help keep your airway open and are especially useful for people with mild to moderate sleep apnea who can’t tolerate positive airway pressure therapy.
3. Lifestyle Changes
You can make a few lifestyle choices to control the severity of sleep apnea. Here are some adjustments that can make a huge difference:
- Try losing weight, as it can reduce or eliminate symptoms in many people.
- Quit smoking.
- Avoid alcohol and other sedatives as these can worsen sleep apnea.
- Try to sleep on your side instead of your back. It can help prevent your tongue and soft tissues from blocking your airway.
4. Surgery
Surgery is typically reserved for those patients who don’t respond to other treatment options. Common surgical procedures for sleep include:
- Tonsillectomy (removal of tonsils)
- Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (In this procedure, a small device is implanted under the skin of your chest. It stimulates the nerves under your tongue to keep the airways open).
- Surgery for the repositioning of your jaw
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
How Chiropractic Care in Singapore Can Help People With Sleep Apnea?
Chiropractic care can effectively help people manage sleep apnea. It is focused on the optimization of the nervous system and your body’s structure. When the vertebrae in your neck and back dislocate or move out of alignment (subluxation), even by an inch, it can disrupt the communication between brain and body.
As a result, it sends faulty signals to the muscles that control your breathing. It may contribute to airway blockages and breathing disruptions during sleep. A chiropractor uses techniques called spinal adjustments to correct these misalignments. By restoring proper alignment of the cervical spine, chiropractic care optimises nerve function and improves the flow of communication between the brain and muscles that control breathing.
Furthermore, chiropractic adjustments help relieve tension in the neck muscles. This helps relax tight muscles and make it easy for air to move in and out of lungs while you sleep. Your chiropractor can also recommend some breathing exercises to strengthen your respiratory muscles and ease your symptoms. He might also counsel you on some specific sleep positions and ergonomic pillows to help keep your airway open.
At Vitality Chiropractic Center in Singapore, our experts specialize in Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care. By precise and gentle adjustments, we aim to restore spine alignment, improve nerve function, and promote overall well-being. Our team provides personalized treatment tailored to your needs. So what are you waiting for? Contact us right now to restore your sleep health!
References
- McFarlane, S. I. (2017). Obstructive sleep apnea and obesity: implications for public health. Sleep Medicine and Disorders International Journal, 1(4). https://doi.org/10.15406/smdij.2017.01.00019
- Mitra, A. K., Bhuiyan, A. R., & Jones, E. A. (2021). Association and risk factors for Obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular Diseases: a Systematic review. Diseases, 9(4), 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases9040088
- Vouzouneraki, K., Franklin, K. A., Forsgren, M., Wärn, M., Persson, J. T., Wik, H., Dahlgren, C., Nilsson, A., Alkebro, C., Burman, P., Erfurth, E., Wahlberg, J., Åkerman, A., Høybye, C., Ragnarsson, O., Engström, B. E., & Dahlqvist, P. (2018). Temporal relationship of sleep apnea and acromegaly: a nationwide study. Endocrine, 62(2), 456–463. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-018-1694-1
- What is sleep apnea? | NHLBI, NIH. (2025, January 9). NHLBI, NIH. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea
Call 8438 9550 or email help@vitalitychiropracticcentres.com today!
Meet Our Chiropractors Specializing in Sleep Apnea Care in Singapore
Dr Shaan (Traditional and Complimentary Therapy Qualification) is a Chiropractor from London (UK) who graduated from the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (UK) as a Doctor of Chiropractic (not medical doctor or dentist). He has completed post-graduate studies and has been serving patients in Singapore since 2015.
He founded Vitality Chiropractic Centres to open the first Upper Cervical clinic in Singapore, and the only practicing Knee Chest Upper Cervical Technique in South East Asia.
He is the Alliance of Chiropractic (AoC) Chairman for Outreach, organising events within Singapore with the People’s Association and other charities. Shaan has served thousands of patients, with experience in patients with headaches, migraines, vertigo, Meniere’s, trigeminal neuralgia, whiplash, IBS and other chronic nervous system problems.
Dr Jessey (黄钰心矫正师) (Traditional and Complimentary Therapy Qualification) is a Chiropractor from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), graduated from Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (UK) as a Doctor of Chiropractic (not medical doctor or dentist). She has experience serving patients from 2 weeks old to 96 years old prior to moving to Singapore and joining Vitality Chiropractic (活力脊椎矫正中心).
She has completed post-graduate studies and is Singapore’s first female Upper Cervical Chiropractor (上颈椎矫正护理).
Jessey is active in outreach, participating in charitable trips to Cambodia and within Singapore. Jessey has experience helping patients with headaches, migraines, dizziness (眩晕/头晕), Meniere’s (美尼尔氏综合症), slipped disc, anxiety, fibrillations, IBS and other chronic nerve system problems. She also has a special interest in children and younger patients.
If you’ve been struggling with Sleep Apnea, call 8438 9550, email help@vitalitychiropracticcentres.com or fill in your information below to book your appointment.
Chiropractic Care for Sleep Apnea – Treatment Rates in Singapore
Here are the expected rates for Sleep Apnea care services at Vitality Chiropractic centres.
Discovery Call
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Jump on a call to discuss your concerns and determine if we are the right fit for you.
Consultation
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During the initial consultation, we will run a physical examination, postural assessment, and nerve system test.
Test Results
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Our chiropractor will explain the findings and test results from the consultation. A customised care plan will then be developed for you.
Single Session
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We will perform a nerve scan and adjustment as needed. Re-examinations and rehab exercises might be implemented.
Written by
Shaan Rai (Chiropractor, Singapore)
Shaan is a British Chiropractor, based in Singapore. He is an Alliance of Chiropractic (AOC) registered Singapore Chiropractor, completing a 5 year course at AECC (UK), attaining his Masters in Chiropractic. He is the Vice President and Chairman for Outreach & Charity for Alliance of Chiropractic (AOC) and is the founder of Vitality Chiropractic Singapore. He developed the NeuroPro method, combining Upper Cervical techniques with Functional Neurology Rehab, with published research coming in 2025.
Dizziness Research in Singapore
Read our case report about our patient with dizziness and hearing loss, and the improvements seen with our care. This was produced by the Australian Spinal Research Foundation, and published in the Asia-Pacific Chiropractic Journal.
Read Our Book
Shaan authored the book, ‘Dealing With Dizziness – Holistic Solutions For Unexplained Chronic Dizziness, Vertigo, and Balance Problems’.
You can find it on Amazon, or available in our Singapore Chiropractic clinic.
FAQS
Chiropractors are trained doctors of Chiropractic. They train exclusively as doctors of Chiropractic, not as medical doctors or dentists.
This is the same as how a Dentist, TCM or PhD graduate are trained as doctors in their field, but are also not medical doctors.
If you have any previous scans, x-rays, MRI’s or other imaging, please bring them to your appointment. We would also recommend bringing a family member or friend if you need support or to discuss finances.
Your initial Consultation will take approximately 1 hour, your Results will take approximately 45 minutes and follow up Appointments will take 20-35 minutes depending on your case.
After Chiropractic adjustments there can occasionally be side effects. The most common feelings after corrections (especially in the beginning) are:
- No changes yet
- Some stiffness in the muscles or light soreness
- Feeling relief
If there are any other symptoms or sensations experienced, please ensure to consult with your Chiropractor.
Absolutely! If you book using our online system you should get an email immediately then a WhatsApp confirmation from our staff.
For follow up appointments you should receive an email 48 hours before your appointment. If you do not, and you would like reminders, please let us know and we will be able to help. If you receive reminders but do not want to, you can also opt out of these emeails.
On any day you receive an adjustment we would advise taking it easy and drinking plenty of water. Give it at least 2 hours before exercising. If you feel tired then listen to your body and get to sleep early. Upon starting care, we will share a guide for you to take home, with a long list of do’s and don’ts, so you can take an active part in your care.
We recommend wearing something comfortable that you can bend in. While you don’t need to wear gym clothes, clothes which you can move in freely will be helpful for any tests or techniques the doctor will need to perform. For women, if you are wearing a dress or skirt we will provide blankets to cover you.
Chiropractic, and any health approach, will not be the answer for every patient and every health concern. Other Chiropractors may use different techniques and methods which may not produce the same results as Upper Cervical Chiropractic.
Our Chiropractors conduct a thorough history, physical assessment, nerve scans and biomechanical x-rays to determine if this is a case they can help.
If we are not the right fit for you, we will do our best to find the right practitioner for you.
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Our Singapore Chiropractic Team for Sleep Apnea can help.