BBC Breakfast presenter left stunned at ‘risk of death’ diagnosis during sleep piece

The star was ‘shocked’ to discover she suffered from the serious condition.

Close up of Ruth Clegg durting her BBC Breakfast report

BBC Breakfat’s Ruth Clegg got a shock diagnosis while investigating a health condiiton for the show (Image: BBC)

BBC Breakfast reporter Ruth Clegg was stunned to discover she suffers from a potentially life threatening condition while investigating the facts about sleep apnoea for the show. It is estimated that millions of people throughout the UK suffer from the condition, which stops breathing, sometimes dozens of times every hour, while sleeping. Left untreated, it can contribute to health issues such as heart disease and stroke.

As part of her report Ruth monitored her sleep using a contraption supplied to her by Dr Prina Ruparelia, who is a respiratory consultant at Bart’s Health NHS Trust. Prior to having her results analysed she said: “It’s a condition that robbed so many of us of a good night’s sleep and left untreated sleep apnoea can have serious consequences. Millions of us might have it, but so few of us know anything about it. I certainly didn’t.” She was just hours away from getting a shock when Dr Ruparelia confirmed she stopped breathing almost ten times an hour while sleeping.

Noticing dips in her sleep patterns as she looked at them on a computer screen she was told that was where she had stopped breathing for 30 seconds.

“My oxygen levels sink and my heart rate goes up and all of this was happening, and I didn’t have a clue,” she said.

It was confirmed that throughout the night she had stopped breathing just under ten times an hour as she slept.

The news came as a shock to the presenter who said: “I can’t believe I actually stopped breathing like that. I know that your body wakes up and everything, but it’s thrown me a little bit,” she said.

 

Dr Prina Ruparelia lloks at results on a computer screen while BBC Breakfast's Ruth Clegg sits beside her

BBC Breakfat’s Ruth Clegg got a shock diagnosis while investigating sleep apnoea for the show (Image: BBC)

She continued: “I think being told that I stopped breathing for 10 times in an hour – that’s definitely scared me and shocked me.

“But it’s made me want to meet other people now who’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnoea. How do they cope and what treatment options have they been given?,” she wondered.

Sleep apnoea can sometimes be treated by making lifestyle changes like losing weight, giving up smoking and reducing how much alcohol you drink.

But many people need to use a device called a CPAP machine, which gently pumps air into a mask you wear over your mouth or nose while you sleep and is supplied for free on the NHS if you need it.