Sleep apnoea means you stop breathing for some time while asleep. Your brain then tells your body to wake up so that you can get oxygen. Picture this happening 42 times an hour every night. That’s what Juanita Herholdt used to go through
20 February 2024 - 06:00
byMohale Moloi, Yolanda Mdzeke and Jessica Pitchford
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Juanita Herholdt used to need two energy drinks and a nap to get through her day. She wasn’t getting enough sleep, which made her grumpy and caused her to battle with controlling her weight.
As a nurse who tested people for sleep disorders, she didn’t think about testing herself until her husband said: “I can’t hear you breathing at night.”
She did the test and learnt that she stopped breathing up to 42 times an hour while asleep. This meant she had severe sleep apnoea.
Sleep apnoea means you stop breathing for some time while asleep. Instead of sleeping through the night, you wake up all the time after your body has already been without enough oxygen for a while. Weight gain, daytime drowsiness and diabetes tend to follow. See how Herholdt beat sleep apnoea and got back to restful nights.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
WATCH: Is snoring a sign of a sleep disorder?
Sleep apnoea means you stop breathing for some time while asleep. Your brain then tells your body to wake up so that you can get oxygen. Picture this happening 42 times an hour every night. That’s what Juanita Herholdt used to go through
Juanita Herholdt used to need two energy drinks and a nap to get through her day. She wasn’t getting enough sleep, which made her grumpy and caused her to battle with controlling her weight.
As a nurse who tested people for sleep disorders, she didn’t think about testing herself until her husband said: “I can’t hear you breathing at night.”
She did the test and learnt that she stopped breathing up to 42 times an hour while asleep. This meant she had severe sleep apnoea.
Sleep apnoea means you stop breathing for some time while asleep. Instead of sleeping through the night, you wake up all the time after your body has already been without enough oxygen for a while. Weight gain, daytime drowsiness and diabetes tend to follow. See how Herholdt beat sleep apnoea and got back to restful nights.
This story was produced by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism. Sign up for the newsletter.
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