Signs of Sleep Apnoea: What Should You Look Out For?

Sleep apnoea can be easy to overlook. Many of its most obvious signs happen while you're asleep, which means a partner or family member may notice them before you do.

Other signs appear during the day and can easily be attributed to stress, getting older, a busy lifestyle or simply not getting enough sleep.

Understanding the possible signs of sleep apnoea can help you decide whether it's worth investigating your sleep further.

What Is Sleep Apnoea?

Sleep apnoea is a sleep-related breathing disorder in which breathing repeatedly reduces or stops during sleep.

The most common form is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). It occurs when the upper airway repeatedly narrows or becomes blocked during sleep.

These breathing disturbances can affect sleep quality and may cause repeated drops in blood oxygen levels.

Because this happens while you're asleep, you may not realise it's occurring.

Common Signs of Sleep Apnoea at Night

Loud or Persistent Snoring

Snoring is one of the best-known signs associated with obstructive sleep apnoea.

However, snoring doesn't automatically mean you have sleep apnoea. Many people snore without having the condition.

It becomes more concerning when loud snoring occurs alongside pauses in breathing, choking, gasping or significant daytime tiredness.

Pauses in Breathing During Sleep

A partner may notice periods when your breathing appears to stop and then restart.

These pauses can sometimes be followed by a gasp, snort or choking sound.

Because the person experiencing them is asleep, a partner's observations can provide useful information when investigating possible sleep apnoea.

Gasping or Choking During Sleep

Waking suddenly with a sensation of gasping or choking can be another reason to investigate your breathing during sleep.

Some people experience this frequently, while others may only become aware of it occasionally.

Restless or Disrupted Sleep

Repeated breathing disturbances can interrupt normal sleep.

You may wake frequently during the night without knowing why, change position repeatedly or simply feel that your sleep is unsettled.

Not everyone with sleep apnoea remembers waking during these events.

Signs You Might Notice During the Day

Sleep apnoea isn't only about what happens at night. The effects of disrupted sleep can also become noticeable during waking hours.

Possible daytime signs can include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness

• Feeling unrefreshed after a full night's sleep

• Difficulty concentrating

• Reduced alertness

• Morning headaches

• Irritability or changes in mood

• Falling asleep unintentionally during quiet activities

These symptoms have many possible causes, so experiencing one or more doesn't necessarily mean you have sleep apnoea.

However, a combination of daytime symptoms and nighttime breathing problems may be worth investigating.

Can You Have Sleep Apnoea Without Realising It?

Yes.

Some people with sleep apnoea don't consider themselves particularly sleepy and may not recognise obvious symptoms.

Others have lived with poor-quality sleep for so long that feeling tired has become normal.

If you sleep alone, it can also be harder to know whether you're snoring heavily, gasping or experiencing pauses in breathing.

This is one reason objective sleep testing can be useful when sleep apnoea is suspected.

Who Can Develop Sleep Apnoea?

Sleep apnoea can affect people of different ages, body types and backgrounds.

Some factors can increase the likelihood of obstructive sleep apnoea, but don't assume someone cannot have sleep apnoea simply because they don't fit the stereotypical image of a person with the condition.

If symptoms or breathing disturbances suggest a possible problem, assessing what actually happens during sleep can provide much more useful information.

When Should You Consider Investigating Your Sleep?

It may be worth discussing your sleep or considering an assessment if you regularly experience symptoms such as:

• Loud snoring combined with daytime tiredness

• Witnessed pauses in breathing

• Gasping or choking during sleep

• Persistent daytime sleepiness despite spending enough time in bed

• Regularly waking feeling unrefreshed

• Ongoing concerns about your breathing during sleep

Symptoms alone cannot diagnose sleep apnoea. A sleep assessment and, where appropriate, sleep testing can help determine whether sleep-disordered breathing is occurring.

How Can Sleep Apnoea Be Tested at Home?

A home sleep test allows information about your sleep and breathing to be collected while you sleep in your own bed.

Depending on the type of test, measurements can include breathing patterns, oxygen levels, heart rate and other information used to assess possible sleep-disordered breathing.

AwakeNZ offers home sleep testing throughout New Zealand, including options for testing over more than one night where appropriate.

Testing across multiple nights can show night-to-night variation rather than relying solely on a single night's measurements.

What Happens If Sleep Apnoea Is Found?

The appropriate next step depends on your results and individual circumstances.

Management options can vary depending on the type and severity of sleep-disordered breathing and other relevant factors.

For people for whom CPAP therapy is appropriate, CPAP provides positive airway pressure to help keep the airway open during sleep.

AwakeNZ can help customers understand the next steps following their sleep assessment, including CPAP trial and equipment options where appropriate.

Take the Next Step

If you're concerned about snoring, daytime tiredness or possible breathing interruptions during sleep, you don't have to guess what's happening overnight.

Start with the AwakeNZ Sleep Assessment to explore your symptoms, or learn more about our Home Sleep Testing options available throughout New Zealand.