Sleep 
affects millions of people, yet the majority don’t even know they have it. In fact, up to 80% of moderate to severe cases go undiagnosed. This common sleep disorder often flies under the radar because its symptoms can be subtle, varied, or mistaken for other everyday issues.
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) happens when the airway briefly collapses or becomes blocked during sleep, causing breathing to stop for a few seconds at a time. These pauses can happen dozens, or even hundreds of times each night. While the brain briefly wakes the body to resume breathing, most people don’t remember these interruptions. But over time, this disrupted sleep leads to fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, and even more serious health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
One reason sleep apnoea is missed so often is that the signs aren’t always obvious. While snoring or gasping for air at night are classic symptoms, not everyone has them. Many people simply feel tired during the day or struggle with memory and mood, symptoms that are often blamed on stress or aging.
Sleep apnoea also doesn’t affect just one type of person. While it’s more common in older, overweight men, it can also affect women, children, and people of any size. In women, symptoms like insomnia, depression, or fatigue are common but often overlooked as signs of a sleep disorder.
The good news is that sleep apnoea is treatable. Once diagnosed (usually with a sleep study or home sleep test) options like CPAP therapy, oral devices, or lifestyle changes can make a big difference.
If you feel constantly tired despite getting enough sleep, or if a partner notices you snore or stop breathing at night, talk to your doctor. Sleep apnoea might be the hidden cause, and getting treatment could change your life.
