What People Get Wrong About Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea: what people commonly get wrong, set against what published US guidance says.
It is strongly linked to high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, stroke and drowsy-driving crashes, and many people who have it are undiagnosed.
Key takeaways
- Definition of an apnea: breathing stops for 10 seconds or more
- Classic signs: loud snoring, witnessed pauses or gasping, daytime sleepiness
- Most useful single change: Ask whoever sleeps near you whether you stop breathing or gasp.
- Commonest mistake: Driving when sleepy, or ignoring falling asleep during the day.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
What the guidance actually says
Before the corrections, the published figures. Everything below is measured against these.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Definition of an apnea | breathing stops for 10 seconds or more |
| Classic signs | loud snoring, witnessed pauses or gasping, daytime sleepiness |
| Standard treatment, moderate to severe | CPAP |
| Diagnosis | a sleep study, often done at home |
| Driving | drowsy driving is dangerous; some jobs have specific medical rules |
Where people go wrong
Each of these is common, and each is a mistake in the sense that the guidance says otherwise.
- Driving when sleepy, or ignoring falling asleep during the day
- Anti-snoring gadgets as a substitute for assessment if you have pauses
- Alcohol or sedatives at night, which worsen airway collapse
What to do instead
- Ask whoever sleeps near you whether you stop breathing or gasp
- Try side sleeping and cutting evening alcohol while awaiting assessment
- Stick with CPAP through the first difficult couple of weeks
- Treat weight loss and nasal blockage as part of the picture
The part that is genuinely uncertain
Guidance changes, and it changes because evidence does. The figures above reflect current US guidance from the bodies named at the foot of this page; where those bodies revise their position, theirs is the account to follow rather than this one.
Related topics
- Atrial Fibrillation: What the Evidence Actually Says (Heart Health)
- What the Guidance Really Says About Shift Work and Health (Workplace Health)
- What the Guidance Really Says About Sleep and the Brain (Brain Health)
- Teen Sleep: What Published Guidance Supports (Teen Health)
Where to go next
- Understanding Sleep Apnea: A Plain-English Explainer
- The Sleep Apnea Checklist: What to Do and What to Skip
- Sleep Apnea — the reference entry
- Sleep: The Complete Guide
- Caffeine and Sleep: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- Shift Work and Sleep: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
When to speak to a doctor
See your doctor if you snore loudly and wake unrefreshed, if anyone has seen you stop breathing or gasp, or if you fall asleep without meaning to during the day, and do not drive while excessively sleepy. Call 911 for chest pain, sudden severe shortness of breath, or signs of stroke such as face drooping, arm weakness or trouble speaking.
Where this comes from
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute — Sleep Apnea
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine — Obstructive Sleep Apnea
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
Spotted something wrong? Report an error on this page. We correct on the page and say what changed.
