Roman Kemp shares photo wearing an oxygen mask as he deals with debilitating condition
ROMAN Kemp has been praised by his fans for sharing a photo on social media of him sleeping with an oxygen mask on.
The Capital FM breakfast show DJ host, and much loved Gogglebox star, first revealed his sleep apnoea diagnoses in an interview earlier this year saying that his condition has caused him “debilitating” levels of tiredness.
The condition causes a person’s breathing to stop and start while they sleep.
In a selfie he posted on Instagram yesterday, Roman can be seen wearing a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine from his bed with his thumbs up.
The photo is captioned: "The best thing is, it’s not that noticeable on your face…"
The CPAP mask -- a common treatment for sleep apnoea -- helps to keep airways open while sleeping.
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Fans who commented on the post praised the celebrity for raising awareness of the condition.
But what is sleep apnoea, how do you know if you have it and how do you treat it?
What is sleep apnoea?
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a relatively common form of sleep apnoea and is estimated to affect 1.5 million adults in the UK.
Despite being relatively common, is thought that up to 85 per cent of those affected are undiagnosed and untreated.
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, OSA occurs when there is a physical blockage in the upper airway.
Central sleep apnea (CSA), the less common form of sleep apnea, and happens when there is a signalling problem in the nervous system.
What are the symptoms?
They include:
- breathing stopping and starting
- making gasping, snorting or choking noises
- waking up a lot
- loud snoring
During the day, you may also:
- feel very tired
- find it hard to concentrate
- have mood swings
- have a headache when you wake up
What causes sleep apnoea?
Sleep apnoea happens if your airways become too narrow while you sleep. This stops you breathing properly.
Sleep apnoea has been linked to:
- obesity
- having a large neck
- getting older – although children and young adults can also get it
- having other family members with sleep apnoea
- smoking and drinking alcohol
- having large tonsils or
- sleeping on your back
What to do if you think you have it?
If you think you could have sleep apnoea it's important to see your GP as soon as possible. Sleep apnoea can be serious if it's not diagnosed and treated.
Your doctor may refer you to a specialist sleep clinic for tests where you could be given devices that check things like your breathing and heartbeat while you sleep.
What are the treatment options?
If your sleep apnoea is mild it may not require any treatment.
However, many people with the condition will need to use a CPAP machine which is provided for free on the NHS.
A machine works by pumping air into a mask you wear over your mouth or nose while you sleep. The machine helps by improving your breathing while by stopping airways getting too narrow.
It can also help improve the quality of your sleep and help reduce chances of developing health conditions associated with sleep apnoea.
Other treatments
Less common treatments for sleep apnoea include:
- a gum shield device that holds your airways open while you sleep
- certain surgeries can also help your breathing, such as removing tonsils
What happens if sleep apnoea goes untreated?
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For many people with sleep apnoea, going without treatment can lead to even more health issues, which include:
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- high blood pressure
- a higher chance of having a stroke
- depression or changes in your mood
- a higher chance of having a serious accident caused by tiredness, such as a car accident
- difficulty concentrating at work or school
Sleep apnoea can also be difficult for your partner to deal with and can put a strain on your relationship with them.