Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common but often overlooked condition that can have serious consequences for your health. While many people associate sleep apnea with loud snoring or obvious pauses in breathing during sleep, the truth is that many signs of OSA are subtle and easy to miss. High-quality sleep is essential for cognitive function, a robust immune system, and resetting the body. Understanding the lesser-known symptoms of OSA, evaluation methods, and treatment options can help you or a loved one get the care you need—and the restful sleep you deserve.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
OSA occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax too much during sleep, causing a temporary blockage of the airway. This can lead to repeated interruptions in breathing throughout the night, reducing oxygen levels, and disrupting normal sleep cycles.
Hidden Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
While snoring and gasping for air during sleep are hallmark symptoms, many people with OSA experience symptoms that don’t immediately suggest a sleep disorder. These include:
- Morning Headaches: Frequent headaches upon waking may be caused by low oxygen levels during sleep.
- Daytime Fatigue: Even with a full night’s sleep, people with OSA often feel tired, foggy, or drowsy throughout the day. Folks may notice an increasing need to nap in the afternoon.
- Mood Changes: Irritability, depression, or anxiety can result from chronic sleep deprivation.
- Dry Mouth or Sore Throat: Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat may indicate mouth breathing due to blocked airways.
- Difficulty Concentrating: Trouble focusing, forgetfulness, and poor performance at work or school can all be signs of disrupted sleep.
- Frequent Nighttime Urination: Waking up multiple times a night to use the bathroom is surprisingly common in people with sleep apnea.
- Decreased Libido: Hormonal changes related to poor sleep may contribute to reduced sexual desire or function.
Because these symptoms can easily be attributed to other causes—like stress, aging, or poor lifestyle habits—OSA is frequently underdiagnosed.
Who Is at Risk?
While anyone can develop sleep apnea, certain factors increase your risk:
- Having obesity or overweight
- Having a thick neck or narrow airway
- Family history of sleep apnea
- Smoking or alcohol use
- Certain medical conditions such as hypothyroidism or nasal congestion
If you fall into any of these risk groups and are experiencing symptoms, it may be time to get evaluated.
Evaluation and Diagnosis
Diagnosing OSA typically begins with a conversation. Your doctor should ask you about sleep habits, symptoms, and medical history. If sleep apnea is suspected, further testing is needed.
The gold standard for diagnosis is a polysomnography, or overnight sleep study, which can be done in a sleep lab or at home using portable equipment. These studies measure oxygen levels, heart rate, breathing patterns, and sleep stages to determine the severity of the condition.
Many primary care practices, including our practice, now offer home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) for patients who qualify, making evaluation more convenient and accessible.
Treatment Options
OSA is a treatable condition, and many patients see a dramatic improvement in quality of life with appropriate management. Common treatment options include:
- CPAP Therapy: The most effective treatment for moderate to severe OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which keeps the airway open using a steady stream of air.
- Oral Appliances: For mild to moderate cases or patients who can’t tolerate CPAP, a custom-fit dental device can help keep the airway open during sleep.
- Lifestyle Changes and Medical Weight Loss: Losing weight with lifestyle modification or medications, avoiding alcohol before bedtime, quitting smoking, and sleeping on your side can all help reduce symptoms.
- Surgical Options: In certain cases, surgery to remove excess tissue or correct anatomical issues may be recommended.
Don’t Sleep on the Signs
Untreated sleep apnea doesn’t just affect your sleep—it increases your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even accidents due to daytime drowsiness. If you recognize any of the hidden signs in yourself or a loved one, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor.
At our practice, we offer in-depth screening and access to home sleep studies to help our patients get a timely and accurate diagnosis. We also provide medical weight loss programs for our patients who may be eligible to treat concurrent OSA. Together, we’ll work to find the treatment option that fits your lifestyle and improves your sleep—and your health.