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What is Sleep Apnea and Why You Shouldn’t Ignore It
Summary
Sleep apnea is a common but often overlooked sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, leading to fragmented rest and low oxygen levels. It comes in two main forms: obstructive (airway blockage) and central (brain signaling issue). While obesity raises risk, anyone—including women, children, and athletes—can develop it due to factors like anatomy, hormones, or genetics.
Untreated sleep apnea causes daytime sleepiness, mood and memory problems, and increases risks of car accidents, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even early death. Fortunately, effective treatments exist, including CPAP therapy, dental devices, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, surgery or nerve stimulation.
Key takeaway: Sleep apnea is far more serious than snoring—it can be life-threatening, but with testing and treatment, patients can regain restorative sleep and protect their long-term health.
When you think of a good night’s sleep, you probably picture feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. But for millions of people, sleep doesn’t work that way. Instead, their nights are filled with silent interruptions in breathing, leaving them groggy, unfocused, and at risk for serious health problems. This condition is called sleep apnea, and it’s much more than just loud snoring.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts while you’re asleep. These pauses, known as apneas, can last a few seconds or even over a minute—and they can happen dozens or hundreds of times a night. There are two main types. The first is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which happens when the soft tissues of the throat collapse and block the airway. This is by far the most common form. The second is central sleep apnea (CSA), which is caused by the brain not sending the proper signals to the breathing muscles. Both types are dangerous because they lower your blood oxygen levels, a state called hypoxia, which stresses the heart and other organs. At the same time, every time your body notices you’ve stopped breathing, it triggers a brief awakening—called a cortical arousal—to get you breathing again. These arousals may last only a few seconds, but they fragment your sleep and prevent you from reaching the deep, restorative stages you need to function well.
Most people think sleep apnea only affects older, overweight men, but that’s not the full picture. While middle-aged men are at the highest risk, women are not immune. In fact, the risk for women increases significantly after menopause, when protective hormones like estrogen and progesterone decline (Jordan et al., 2014). Children can also be affected, often due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids. And here’s an important point: you don’t have to be unhealthy or overweight to have sleep apnea. People of normal weight—even athletes—can be at risk because of how their jaws, throats, or airways are shaped. A muscular neck, for example, can actually narrow the airway during sleep.
The Hidden Costs of Sleep Apnea
A number of factors can make sleep apnea more likely. Obesity is a major one, because fat deposits around the neck and airway increase the chances of collapse. But anatomy also plays a role—things like a small jaw, recessed chin, or large tongue can all restrict airflow. Hormonal issues, such as hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or menopause, are also linked to higher rates of sleep apnea (Tasali et al., 2008). In short, sleep apnea is often the result of multiple overlapping factors, and being “fit and healthy” doesn’t guarantee protection.
The short-term effects of untreated sleep apnea are easy to notice. People often feel excessively sleepy during the day, have trouble concentrating, and may experience memory lapses or mood problems like irritability and depression (Beebe et al., 2003). Sleep apnea also increases the risk of car accidents—studies show people with untreated OSA are about 2.5 times more likely to be involved in a crash (Tregear et al., 2009). The long-term consequences are even more serious.
Sleep apnea is strongly linked with high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even certain cancers (Somers et al., 2008; Nieto et al., 2012). There’s also growing evidence that it can contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and worsen mental health. To put it into perspective, people with severe untreated OSA have a 2–3 times higher risk of dying from any cause compared to people without the condition (Marin et al., 2005). That’s why sleep apnea is far from just an annoyance—it’s a condition that can shorten your life.
Finding Relief. Restoring Health.
The good news is that effective treatments exist, and they can dramatically reduce these risks. The gold standard is positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP or PAP), which uses gentle air pressure to keep the airway open. For people with mild to moderate OSA, oral appliances made by dentists—called mandibular advancement devices—can also be highly effective. Lifestyle changes like weight management, treating allergies, or avoiding alcohol before bed can help. And in some cases, surgical options or newer devices like hypoglossal nerve stimulation may be appropriate. With the right treatment, people often report feeling more energetic, less moody, and finally able to enjoy restorative, uninterrupted sleep. More importantly, treatment lowers the long-term health risks that make sleep apnea so dangerous.
Sleep apnea is more than just snoring—it’s a serious medical condition that affects millions of people and can have life-threatening consequences if ignored. Because it often goes undiagnosed, many people live with daytime fatigue, brain fog, or poor health without realizing the underlying cause. Fortunately, testing is easier than ever, and treatment can truly change—and even save—your life. If you suspect you or someone you love might have sleep apnea, don’t brush it off. Talk to your doctor or a sleep specialist. Addressing sleep apnea early can restore restful nights and protect your long-term health.
References
American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Obstructive sleep apnea prevalence. J Clin Sleep Med. 2016;12(4):555–561. doi:10.5664/jcsm.5572
Jordan AS, McSharry DG, Malhotra A. Adult obstructive sleep apnoea. Lancet. 2014;383(9918):736–747. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60734-5
Tasali E, Mokhlesi B, Van Cauter E. Obstructive sleep apnea and endocrinologic disorders: implications for clinical practice. Chest. 2008;133(2):496–506. doi:10.1378/chest.07-0824
Beebe DW, Groesz L, Wells C, Nichols A, McGee K. The neuropsychological effects of obstructive sleep apnea: a meta-analysis. Sleep. 2003;26(3):298–307. doi:10.1093/sleep/26.3.298
Tregear S, Reston J, Schoelles K, Phillips B. Obstructive sleep apnea and risk of motor vehicle crash: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Sleep Med. 2009;5(6):573–581
Somers VK, White DP, Amin R, et al. Sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease: an American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation statement. Circulation. 2008;118(10):1080–1111. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.189375
Reichmuth KJ, Austin D, Skatrud JB, Young T. Association of sleep apnea and type II diabetes: a population-based study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005;172(12):1590–1595. doi:10.1164/rccm.200504-637OC
Osorio RS, Gumb T, Pirraglia E, et al. Sleep-disordered breathing advances cognitive decline in the elderly. Neurology. 2015;84(19):1964–1971. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000001566
Nieto FJ, Peppard PE, Young T, et al. Sleep-disordered breathing and cancer mortality: results from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2012;186(2):190–194. doi:10.1164/rccm.201201-0130OC
Marin JM, Carrizo SJ, Vicente E, Agusti AG. Long-term cardiovascular outcomes in men with obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea with or without treatment with CPAP: an observational study. Lancet. 2005;365(9464):1046–1053. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)71141-7
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is sleep apnea and why is it more than just snoring?
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during the night. These pauses lower oxygen levels and fragment sleep, preventing the body from reaching deep, restorative stages. While snoring is a common symptom, the real danger lies in the strain apnea puts on the heart, brain, and overall health.
Who is at risk of developing sleep apnea?
Although middle-aged men are most commonly affected, sleep apnea doesn’t discriminate. Women’s risk rises sharply after menopause, children can develop it due to enlarged tonsils, and even healthy or athletic individuals may be vulnerable because of airway anatomy. Factors like obesity, neck structure, hormones, and family history all play a role.
What symptoms should I look out for?
The most common red flags are loud snoring, pauses in breathing witnessed by others, choking or gasping at night, and waking unrefreshed. During the day, people often struggle with excessive sleepiness, poor concentration, memory lapses, headaches, and mood changes such as irritability or depression.
Why is untreated sleep apnea dangerous?
Beyond daytime fatigue, untreated sleep apnea has far-reaching health effects. It increases the risk of car accidents, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain cancers, and even neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s. Studies show that severe untreated cases can double or triple the risk of premature death.
How is sleep apnea diagnosed?
Diagnosis traditionally has involved a sleep study. This can be done in a sleep lab with comprehensive monitoring (polysomnography) or now at home with more comfortable devices (home sleep apnea testing). Both approaches measure breathing patterns, oxygen levels, and sleep disruptions to confirm the condition.
What treatments are available and do they work?
The gold standard is CPAP therapy, which uses gentle air pressure to keep the airway open. Alternatives include dental appliances, lifestyle changes like weight management and reduced alcohol use, or in some cases surgery and nerve stimulation devices. With proper treatment, patients often feel more energetic, think more clearly, and dramatically reduce long-term health risks.
