'Doctors blamed my sleep issue on pillow – but real problem could actually be deadly'

A man whose snoring issues were dismissed for years by doctors was eventually diagnosed with sleep apnoea – a condition that increases the risk of dying early.

Dave Whelan, 46, had spent years suffering from sleep related issues such as snoring and was repeated ignored by doctors when he asked for a sleep apnoea test.

He was told the symptoms were due to smoking-induced inflammation of the nasal passage, shift work, allergies, poor diet - and even the incorrect pillow and mattress.

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Sleep apnoea is a condition where someone’s breathing stops whilst they’re sleeping. If sleep apnoea isn’t treated or improved this could have long term consequences, including a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Unfortunately for Dave, he wasn’t diagnosed until he came off the M1 motorway and crashed into a tree to avoid a stopped car. He recalled: “I went to brake and the car didn’t seem to respond. I wasn’t stopping before I went into the back of the car in front, so I swerved to avoid them.

“I mounted the kerb and the grass was frosty, so the car wasn’t stopping, and I slid headfirst into a tree. The next thing I know, I’m surrounded by airbags and I can hear a voice asking me if I’m okay.”

Subsequent cognitive tests showed he had the reaction times of an 80-year-old and a private ResMed scan revealed his breathing was stopping 54 times per hour of sleep.

Following a diagnosis of sleep apnoea, Dave started wearing a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine, manufactured by ResMed, which finally meant he could safely enjoy a full night's rest.

The results were immediate and Dave realised he finally knew what it was like to not feel tired. He explained: “I’d had no idea what it felt like to wake up and not still feel tired, I genuinely thought when people woke up, they were still tired.

“In the month after getting the machine and returning to work, I was waking after 7 hours’ sleep, naturally, feeling so energetic. My mood instantly changed. I was happy, laughing and smiling.

“I was and still am getting up and doing things straight away rather than sitting for an hour or two waking up. The first two weeks I saw my partner cry so many times with happiness at the difference in me.”

Dave said the improvement in his sleep also began to reflect in his diet and his relationship with his partner.

“My kids noticed I wasn’t so grumpy and had stopped shouting. I no longer nap in the middle of the day and find I can concentrate more. I stopped craving sugary foods to boost my energy levels,” the father-of-two remarked.

With regard to sleep apnoea, the NHS has a range of guidance and symptoms to look out for if anyone is curious as to whether they too have sleep apnoea. During the day these could include feeling very tired, mood swings, a headache when someone wakes up, and finding it hard to concentrate.

They added: “It can be hard to tell if you have sleep apnoea. It may help to ask someone to stay with you while you sleep so they can check for the symptoms.”

More guidance on sleep apnoea and what to do if you think you have it can be found on the NHS website or through your local GP.