What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and Why Does It Matter?

Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. These pauses in breathing can last several seconds and may occur many times an hour. Each time breathing stops, oxygen levels drop, and the brain briefly wakes the body to restart breathing.

Most people are not aware that these awakenings are happening, but they prevent deep, restorative sleep and place strain on the body.

How Is Sleep Apnoea Diagnosed?

Accurate diagnosis is the first step. At LIPS Healthcare, our clinic near Battersea Power Station is led by Dr Amit Patel, a specialist respiratory consultant with extensive experience in diagnosing and managing sleep apnoea. Our team provides thorough assessments to confirm sleep apnoea and build a personalised treatment plan around your results. As a private clinic, we offer rapid access to specialist assessment — typically within days — without the delays of an NHS referral pathway.

Sleep apnoea is usually diagnosed with a sleep study, which measures breathing patterns overnight and helps identify the type and severity of sleep apnoea.

What Is a Sleep Study for Sleep Apnoea?

A sleep study records key information while you sleep, such as:

• Breathing interruptions
• Oxygen levels
• Sleep-related breathing patterns This test is usually done at home, using a simple monitoring device while you sleep.