'The wife said I snored like a pig'

Thousands of people across the UK are seeking the help of a Hull charity to get a good night's sleep - and potentially save themselves from heart attacks and stroke.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a condition that causes the throat to close completely during sleep, stopping the flow of air.

Managers at Hope 2 Sleep in the city said latest figures showed its staff had helped about 25,000 people since its launch in 2016.

Trevor Entwistle, 69, who sought a referral to a sleep clinic after passing a poster listing OSA symptoms, such as snoring, in the charity's shop window, said: "It saved my life."

The retired sales assistant added: "Before treatment, the wife said I snored like a pig. I would also wake up panting, covered in sweat, in a real panic."

Tests showed he had severe OSA.

According to figures published in The Lancet, eight million people in the UK have the condition.

Natalie Fox, spokesperson for Hope 2 Sleep, said Mr Entwistle's symptoms were common among OSA patients.

She said: "Other symptoms include morning headaches or dizziness, a dry mouth and waking up not feeling refreshed, as they should do if they allowed themselves the right amount of sleep."

• What is sleep apnoea, and what can you do about it?

Ms Fox said the consequences of not correcting OSA were severe.

"Undiagnosed, the condition can lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, stroke and heart attacks," she said.

Ms Fox urged anyone with symptoms to visit their GP, who may refer them for a sleep study, which analyses breathing patterns to determine if they have OSA.

"We suggest people take with them to the sleep clinic any recordings showing their disturbed sleep," she said.

If a diagnosis was made, Ms Fox said the "most effective" treatment was delivered via a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which blows air through a mask keeping the airway open during sleep.

Ms Fox said some mistakenly believe OSA only affects those who are overweight.

"We have people of all shapes and sizes seek our help," she said. "Some you certainly would not say were overweight."

Founder Kath Hope, who herself has severe OSA, said: "We're saving lives - and marriages."

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