Published: July 8, 2026

Has your partner ever nudged you awake, telling you that you were snoring loudly or even stopped breathing for a moment? While you may have brushed it off, that observation is an important clue, especially if you spend your days feeling drained and foggy. That combination of nighttime symptoms and daytime fatigue points directly to the strong link between sleep apnea and daytime sleepiness. Your partner is noticing the cause, while you are living with the effect. Let’s explore what these signs mean, why they matter for your health, and what you can do to finally feel rested again.

Key Takeaways

  • Untreated Sleep Apnea Poses Serious Health Risks: This condition is not just about snoring; it’s defined by repeated pauses in breathing that strain your body. Over time, this can lead to major health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
  • Listen to Your Body’s Warning Signs: The most obvious symptoms, like gasping for air, happen while you sleep, but the effects show up during the day. Constant fatigue, trouble focusing, morning headaches, and irritability are all signals that your sleep is being disrupted and are worth investigating.
  • Effective Treatments Offer a Path to Better Sleep: You do not have to accept constant tiredness as your normal. A professional diagnosis is the key to finding a solution, which can range from lifestyle changes and custom oral appliances to CPAP therapy, all designed to help you breathe freely and reclaim your energy.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

If you’re constantly tired despite getting a full night’s sleep, the culprit might be sleep apnea. This common sleep disorder causes your breathing to repeatedly stop and start while you’re asleep. These pauses, or “apneas,” can happen dozens or even hundreds of times each night, preventing your body and brain from getting the restorative rest they need. While most people associate sleep apnea with loud snoring, the condition is more complex than that. There are actually a few different types, each with a unique cause.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA, is the most frequent type. Think of it as a physical roadblock in your airway. When you fall asleep, the muscles in the back of your throat, including your tongue and soft palate, can relax too much. This causes them to collapse and block the flow of air. Your brain quickly senses the lack of oxygen and sends a panic signal, jolting you awake just enough to gasp for air. This cycle can repeat all night long without you ever remembering it, which is why you might feel exhausted the next day. If you’re experiencing symptoms, a specialist can help with diagnosis and treatment for sleep apnea.

Central Sleep Apnea

Central Sleep Apnea is less common and works differently. Instead of a physical blockage, it’s more of a communication issue. With this type, your brain doesn’t send the correct signals to the muscles that control your breathing. For a brief period, your body simply doesn’t make an effort to breathe. Unlike OSA, people with central sleep apnea don’t always snore, which can make it harder to spot. This condition is often linked to other health issues, making a proper diagnosis from a medical professional essential for managing your overall health.

Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Finally, there’s Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome, which is a hybrid of the other two types. A person with this condition has both the physical airway blockages of OSA and the brain signaling issues of central sleep apnea. Often, it’s discovered when someone begins treatment for what appears to be standard OSA. For example, even after starting CPAP therapy, they might continue to experience breathing pauses because the underlying central apneas are now more apparent. This is a perfect example of why ongoing care with a sleep specialist is so important for finding a treatment that truly works for your specific needs.

Who Is at Risk for Sleep Apnea?

While sleep apnea can affect anyone, even children, certain factors can increase your likelihood of developing the condition. It’s not just about one single cause; it’s often a combination of genetics, physical anatomy, and lifestyle habits. Understanding these risk factors is the first step toward recognizing if you or a loved one should seek an evaluation. It’s important to remember that having a risk factor doesn’t guarantee you’ll have sleep apnea, but it does mean it’s worth paying closer attention to your sleep quality and how you feel during the day.

Physical Traits and Lifestyle Habits

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common type, and it happens when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much during sleep, temporarily blocking your airway. Certain physical traits can make this more likely. For example, having a larger neck circumference, a naturally narrow throat, or large tonsils can reduce the space for air to pass through. Lifestyle choices also play a role. Consuming alcohol or sedatives before bed can cause the throat muscles to over-relax. Similarly, being overweight can lead to fatty tissue deposits in the neck, further constricting the airway. Recognizing these factors can help you understand your personal risk for snoring and sleep apnea.

Related Medical Conditions

Sleep apnea often exists alongside other health issues, and sometimes it’s difficult to tell which came first. Conditions like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and congestive heart failure are frequently linked to OSA. The strain that repeated breathing pauses puts on your body can contribute to these problems, and vice versa. For instance, hormonal disorders and previous strokes can also increase your risk. It’s also worth noting the connection between sleep disorders and orofacial pain. Many patients who experience issues with their jaw may also have underlying sleep-breathing problems, which is why a comprehensive look at your health, including any potential TMJ disorder, is so important for an accurate diagnosis.

Why Women Are Often Underdiagnosed

The classic image of a sleep apnea patient is often a middle-aged man who snores loudly. This stereotype contributes to a significant problem: women with sleep apnea are frequently overlooked and underdiagnosed. Women may not present with loud, gasping snores. Instead, they are more likely to report symptoms like chronic fatigue, insomnia, morning headaches, and mood changes. These symptoms are easily mistaken for other conditions like depression, anxiety, or hormonal shifts. Because their symptoms don’t fit the textbook description, many women suffer for years without knowing the true cause of their exhaustion. If you’re a woman who feels perpetually tired despite getting enough hours in bed, it’s vital to consider sleep apnea as a possibility and consult with a specialist.

Spotting the Signs of Sleep Apnea

Recognizing sleep apnea can be tricky because the most telling symptoms happen when you’re not awake to notice them. It often takes a partner or family member to point out that something is wrong with your breathing at night. However, the effects of poor sleep don’t stay in the bedroom. They follow you into your day, showing up as fatigue, moodiness, and trouble concentrating. Understanding both the nighttime and daytime signs is the first step toward figuring out if sleep apnea is what’s leaving you so tired.

Nighttime Symptoms

The name “sleep apnea” literally means “without breath.” It’s a condition where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts while you sleep. For it to be considered an apnea event, the pause in breathing has to last for at least 10 seconds. The most common type, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), happens when the muscles in your throat relax and block your airway. This can lead to loud, persistent snoring, but it’s more than just a noisy habit. A key sign is snoring that’s interrupted by pauses, followed by choking or gasping sounds as your body struggles to breathe. If your partner has nudged you awake because you were making these sounds, it’s a major red flag for Snoring & Sleep Apnea.

Daytime Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

Feeling tired is one thing, but Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) is another level. It’s a persistent, overwhelming sense of sleepiness that can make it hard to get through the day. This happens because the constant interruptions to your breathing at night disrupt the brain chemicals that are meant to keep you awake and alert. Up to half of the people with OSA experience EDS, and it can seriously interfere with daily tasks, affect your mood, and put you at a higher risk for accidents. If you find yourself dozing off at work, while watching TV, or even while driving, it’s a clear signal that your body isn’t getting the restorative sleep it needs. This level of fatigue is not normal and shouldn’t be ignored.

How Does Sleep Apnea Cause Excessive Daytime Sleepiness?

Feeling exhausted even after a full eight hours in bed is a hallmark sign of sleep apnea. This profound sense of tiredness, known as excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), isn’t just about feeling a little groggy. It’s a debilitating fatigue that can interfere with your work, relationships, and overall quality of life. The reason you feel so tired has everything to do with what’s happening to your body while you sleep. It’s a combination of interrupted sleep cycles and a lack of oxygen, both of which put a tremendous strain on your brain and body.

The Impact of Fragmented Sleep

When you have obstructive sleep apnea, your airway repeatedly closes throughout the night, causing you to stop breathing for short periods. Each time this happens, your brain sends a panic signal to wake you up just enough to gasp for air. You might not remember these awakenings, but they can happen hundreds of times a night. This constant disruption fragments your sleep, preventing you from reaching the deep, restorative stages your body needs to repair itself. It’s like trying to charge your phone with a faulty cord that keeps disconnecting. Even if it’s plugged in all night, you’ll wake up with an empty battery.

How Low Oxygen Affects Your Brain

Every time your breathing stops, the oxygen level in your blood drops. This recurring drop, called intermittent hypoxia, is incredibly stressful for your body, especially your brain. Your brain needs a steady supply of oxygen to function properly. When it’s repeatedly deprived, it can lead to inflammation and even damage brain cells over time. Specifically, this can affect the neural pathways that help regulate wakefulness. Essentially, sleep apnea can harm the very parts of your brain responsible for keeping you alert and focused during the day, making it even harder to shake off the fatigue.

The Toll on Your Mood and Mind

The constant exhaustion from sleep apnea does more than just make you sleepy; it takes a significant toll on your mental and emotional health. Living with chronic fatigue can make you feel irritable, unfocused, and emotionally drained. Research shows a strong link between the excessive daytime sleepiness caused by OSA and mood disorders. In fact, people with EDS are significantly more likely to experience depression and anxiety. This isn’t a personal failing; it’s a physiological response to chronic sleep deprivation and the stress it puts on your system. Addressing your sleep is a critical step toward improving your mental well-being.

Is Daytime Sleepiness Always a Sign of Sleep Apnea?

Feeling exhausted during the day is a huge red flag for sleep apnea, but it’s not the only possible cause. This isn’t just about feeling a little tired; it’s a level of fatigue called excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), where you might find yourself dozing off at your desk, during a conversation, or needing frequent naps just to get through the day. It’s a common complaint, affecting an estimated 20 percent of the population to a degree that can interfere with daily life.

When your body is repeatedly starved of oxygen and your sleep is constantly interrupted, as it is with snoring and sleep apnea, profound fatigue is a natural consequence. For this reason, sleep apnea is often one of the first conditions a specialist will investigate when a patient reports feeling tired all the time. However, our bodies are complex, and several other factors can lead to persistent tiredness. Understanding the different potential causes is the first step toward finding the right solution and getting your energy back.

Other Reasons You Might Be Tired

Before assuming your fatigue is from sleep apnea, it’s helpful to consider other common culprits. The most frequent cause of daytime sleepiness is simply not getting enough sleep. Life is busy, and it’s easy to let a full night’s rest fall to the bottom of the priority list. Beyond that, certain sedating medications can also cause significant drowsiness as a side effect. Other causes of excessive daytime sleepiness can include underlying medical conditions or mental health challenges like depression. Looking at your lifestyle and health habits can provide important clues about the source of your fatigue.

When to Take Daytime Fatigue Seriously

Everyone has days where they feel drained. But if your fatigue is constant and getting in the way of your work, relationships, or ability to enjoy life, it’s time to take it seriously. This level of exhaustion isn’t normal, and it’s not something you should have to “power through.” Persistent fatigue can be a sign of an underlying health issue that needs attention.

When that issue is sleep apnea, the stakes are high. It doesn’t just make you tired; it can seriously impact your long-term health. The FDA warns that untreated sleep apnea increases your risk for heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. If you’re constantly tired and it’s affecting your quality of life, speaking with a sleep specialist is a critical step toward protecting your overall health.

What Are the Health Risks of Untreated Sleep Apnea?

Dismissing sleep apnea as just loud snoring is a common mistake, but it’s one that can have serious consequences for your overall health. When your body is repeatedly deprived of oxygen throughout the night, it puts a significant strain on nearly every system. This isn’t just about feeling tired; it’s about long-term risks that can affect your heart, mind, and daily safety. Let’s look at some of the most significant health risks of leaving sleep apnea untreated.

The Link to Heart Disease and Metabolism

The constant cycle of stopping and starting breathing puts immense stress on your cardiovascular system. Each time your oxygen levels drop, your body releases stress hormones, raising your blood pressure and heart rate. Over time, this chronic strain can lead to serious and even life-threatening conditions. Untreated sleep apnea significantly increases your risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and irregular heart rhythms. Beyond your heart, the condition is also closely linked to metabolic issues. The hormonal and chemical changes caused by poor sleep can disrupt how your body processes sugar, making you more susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes. These aren’t distant possibilities; they are direct health problems linked to untreated sleep apnea.

Impact on Your Mental Well-Being

The connection between sleep and mental health is powerful, and the chronic sleep deprivation from apnea can take a heavy toll on your emotional state. If you have sleep apnea and experience excessive daytime sleepiness, you are much more likely to feel depressed or anxious. This isn’t simply a case of being grumpy from a lack of sleep. The constant fatigue, combined with the physiological stress on your brain and body, can disrupt the chemicals that regulate your mood. Living with a constant feeling of exhaustion can make you feel irritable, hopeless, and overwhelmed. Addressing your sleep apnea is a critical step not only for your physical health but for restoring your mental and emotional balance as well.

Effects on Brain Function and Daily Safety

When you don’t get restorative sleep, your brain can’t function at its best. The excessive daytime sleepiness caused by sleep apnea often leads to what many describe as “brain fog.” You might find it hard to concentrate, struggle with memory, or feel like you’re moving through a haze all day. This cognitive impairment affects your performance at work and your ability to handle daily tasks. More importantly, it creates a serious safety issue. Drowsiness dramatically slows your reaction time, increasing the risk of car accidents and other incidents at home or in the workplace. Protecting your safety and the safety of others starts with getting the quality sleep your brain needs to stay alert and focused.

How Is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?

If your symptoms are pointing toward sleep apnea, the next step is getting a definitive answer from a professional. While it’s tempting to self-diagnose based on what you read online, a formal diagnosis is the only way to know for sure and get on the path to effective treatment. The diagnostic process is thorough and designed to understand exactly what’s happening while you sleep. It typically involves two key parts: an objective look at your sleep patterns through a sleep study and a subjective assessment of how your symptoms, especially fatigue, are affecting your daily life.

At Encino Sleep and TMJ, we guide patients through this process to get a complete picture of their health. A proper diagnosis for sleep apnea is crucial because it determines the severity of your condition, which in turn dictates the most appropriate treatment plan for you. Whether your condition is mild, moderate, or severe, understanding the specifics allows us to tailor a solution that helps you breathe easier and feel more rested. This isn’t just about stopping snoring; it’s about protecting your long-term health and restoring your quality of life. The journey starts with gathering the right information, and that’s exactly what a formal diagnosis provides.

From At-Home Tests to In-Lab Sleep Studies

To confirm a sleep apnea diagnosis, you’ll need a sleep study. This test measures what’s happening in your body while you sleep, and it’s the gold standard for an accurate diagnosis. Depending on your specific symptoms and medical history, your doctor might recommend either an in-lab study or a more convenient at-home test. An in-lab study is more comprehensive, while an at-home test is a great option for many people with suspected obstructive sleep apnea. The FDA confirms that a sleep study is necessary to determine if your condition is mild, moderate, or severe based on how many times you stop breathing each hour. Your doctor will help you decide which test is right for you.

Measuring Your Level of Fatigue

Besides looking at your breathing, your doctor will also want to understand how sleepiness impacts your daily life. Feeling tired all the time is more than just an inconvenience; it’s a key symptom. In fact, excessive daytime sleepiness is a widespread issue, affecting about 20% of the population to a degree that interferes with their normal activities. To measure your personal level of fatigue, your doctor might use a simple questionnaire called the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. This tool asks you to rate how likely you are to doze off in various common situations, like reading a book or riding in a car. Your score gives your doctor valuable insight into the severity of your sleepiness.

How to Treat Sleep Apnea and Reclaim Your Energy

The good news is that sleep apnea is highly treatable, and getting the right care is the most direct way to resolve daytime sleepiness and get your life back. Finding the best treatment for you is a collaborative process between you and your sleep specialist. It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation; the ideal approach depends on the type and severity of your sleep apnea, your physical health, and your personal preferences.

Treatments range from simple lifestyle adjustments to the use of medical devices and, in some cases, surgical procedures. The goal of any treatment is to keep your airway open while you sleep, allowing you to breathe continuously through the night. This restores your body’s natural sleep cycle, stops the constant waking, and allows your brain and body to get the deep, restorative rest they need. As your sleep quality improves, you’ll find your energy, focus, and mood improve right along with it. Let’s walk through the most common and effective treatment options available.

Lifestyle Changes That Make a Real Difference

For some people, especially those with mild sleep apnea, making a few key lifestyle adjustments can have a huge impact. These changes can also work alongside other treatments to make them even more effective. Losing excess weight is often the first recommendation, as it can reduce fatty tissue in the back of the throat and decrease the pressure on your airway.

Other helpful habits include reducing alcohol consumption, particularly before bed, since alcohol relaxes the throat muscles and can worsen apnea. Quitting smoking is another powerful step, as it reduces inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway. While these changes require commitment, they are some of the most empowering steps you can take for your overall health and can significantly improve your sleep quality.

CPAP Therapy

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP, is the most common and often most effective treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. A CPAP machine works by delivering a steady stream of pressurized air through a mask you wear while you sleep. This gentle, constant pressure acts like an “air splint,” preventing your airway from collapsing and allowing you to breathe freely all night long.

While the idea of sleeping with a mask can seem daunting, modern CPAP machines are quiet, and masks come in many comfortable, low-profile designs. For many, the life-changing results of waking up truly refreshed are well worth the adjustment period. It’s considered the gold standard for a reason: it works. Your doctor can help you find the right machine and mask for your needs.

Oral Appliance Therapy

If you have mild to moderate sleep apnea or find you can’t tolerate CPAP, oral appliance therapy is an excellent alternative. This treatment involves wearing a custom-fitted device, similar to a mouthguard, while you sleep. The appliance is designed to gently shift your lower jaw or tongue forward, which helps keep your airway open.

These devices are small, quiet, and easy to travel with, making them a convenient choice for many people. A dentist with specialized training in sleep medicine, like Dr. Michael Simmons, will custom-make the appliance to fit your mouth perfectly for maximum comfort and effectiveness. For the right person, an oral appliance can be just as effective as a CPAP machine, offering a simpler way to achieve a peaceful night’s sleep.

Surgical Options

In certain situations, surgery may be an option to treat sleep apnea, especially if there is a clear physical obstruction in your airway that can be corrected. This is typically considered only after other treatments like CPAP or oral appliances have been unsuccessful. Surgical procedures can involve removing excess tissue from the throat and palate, repositioning the jaw, or addressing nasal blockages.

Because every surgery comes with risks, it’s a decision that requires a thorough discussion with your doctor and a surgeon specializing in sleep medicine. They can help you understand the potential benefits and drawbacks based on your specific anatomy and condition. The goal is to find a permanent solution, but it’s important to weigh all your options carefully.

Still Tired? Managing Fatigue After Treatment

What if you’re consistently using your treatment but still feel exhausted during the day? First, don’t get discouraged. It’s important to tell your doctor, as it could mean your treatment needs a small adjustment. Your pressure settings may need to be changed, or your oral appliance might need a refit.

However, for a small number of people, excessive daytime sleepiness can persist even with effective sleep apnea treatment. In these cases, a doctor might prescribe a wake-promoting medication to help you stay alert and focused during the day. This isn’t a substitute for treating your sleep apnea, but rather an additional tool to help you manage lingering symptoms while your body continues to heal and recover from years of fragmented sleep.

Sleep Apnea Myths, Busted

There’s a lot of chatter about sleep apnea, and not all of it is accurate. These common misunderstandings can sometimes stop people from getting the help they need. Let’s clear up a few of the biggest myths so you can feel more confident about what’s really going on with your sleep.

Myth: Only older, overweight men get sleep apnea.

This is one of the most persistent myths out there. While it’s true that being male and carrying extra weight are risk factors, they are far from the only ones. Women get sleep apnea too, though their symptoms can be more subtle, leading to underdiagnosis. Things like hormonal changes during menopause can increase a woman’s risk. Even thin, athletic people can have sleep apnea due to their anatomy, like a narrow airway or a particular jaw structure. And it’s not just an adult problem; children can also have sleep apnea, often due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids.

Myth: If you snore, you definitely have sleep apnea.

Snoring is a classic sign of sleep apnea, but the two aren’t the same thing. Plenty of people snore without having a sleep disorder. The key difference is what happens to your breathing. Simple snoring is just the sound of air vibrating past soft tissues in your throat. With sleep apnea, that sound is accompanied by repeated pauses in breathing. These pauses can happen hundreds of times a night, starving your body and brain of oxygen. So, while loud, disruptive snoring is a major red flag, it’s the breathing interruptions that define the condition and require a professional evaluation.

Myth: Sleep apnea is just a minor inconvenience.

Thinking of sleep apnea as just “bad snoring” is a dangerous mistake. When left untreated, it puts immense strain on your entire body. The constant drops in oxygen and fragmented sleep can seriously affect your health, increasing your risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. It also takes a toll on your mental well-being, contributing to depression and anxiety. A proper diagnosis and treatment from a specialist like Dr. Michael Simmons isn’t just about getting a better night’s sleep; it’s about protecting your long-term health and reclaiming your quality of life.

Myth: Children don’t get sleep apnea.

Many people are surprised to learn that children can have sleep apnea. The condition can look different in kids than it does in adults. Instead of obvious daytime sleepiness, a child with sleep apnea might seem hyperactive, have trouble focusing in school, or experience behavioral problems. Other signs can include bedwetting, mouth breathing during the day, and of course, snoring. Because these symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions, it’s important to consider sleep apnea as a possibility. If you notice any of these signs, it’s worth discussing them with a doctor, as early treatment can prevent developmental and health issues.

When to See a Sleep Specialist

It’s one thing to feel drained after a few nights of poor sleep, but it’s another when deep-seated exhaustion becomes your constant companion. If you feel like you’re running on empty no matter how much you rest, your body might be trying to tell you something. Paying attention to these signals is the first step toward getting your energy back.

So, when does “just tired” cross the line into something you should talk to a doctor about? You should consider scheduling a consultation if you consistently experience any of the following:

  • Loud, persistent snoring that disrupts your partner or can be heard from another room.
  • Waking up choking or gasping for air.
  • Pauses in breathing during sleep, often noticed by a partner.
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness that makes it hard to get through work, stay awake while driving, or focus on daily tasks. In fact, significant daytime sleepiness is common enough to interfere with daily activities for about one in five adults.
  • Morning headaches, a dry mouth, or a sore throat upon waking.

These symptoms aren’t just minor inconveniences; they are potential signs of a sleep disorder like obstructive sleep apnea. Ignoring them means continuing to live with the frustrating cycle of restless nights and exhausted days. A professional evaluation is the only way to get a clear diagnosis and find out what’s really going on. Talking to a sleep specialist can help you finally understand the root cause of your fatigue and explore effective treatment options.

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Frequently Asked Questions

I snore, but I don’t think I stop breathing. Could I still have sleep apnea? It’s a great question, and it’s one I hear a lot. While loud snoring is a major red flag, the breathing pauses in sleep apnea can be subtle and you likely wouldn’t remember them. Your brain wakes you just enough to restart your breathing, but not enough for you to be fully conscious of it. That’s why the daytime symptoms, like feeling exhausted no matter how long you sleep, are such important clues. If you snore loudly and feel persistently tired, it’s definitely worth looking into.

I’m worried about using a CPAP machine. Are there other effective treatments? Yes, absolutely. While CPAP is a fantastic treatment for many, it’s not the only option. For people with mild to moderate sleep apnea, or for those who can’t get comfortable with CPAP, oral appliance therapy is an excellent alternative. This involves a custom-fitted device, much like a retainer, that you wear at night. It works by gently repositioning your jaw to keep your airway open. It’s discreet, quiet, and easy to travel with, making it a preferred choice for many patients.

How can I tell the difference between normal tiredness and the excessive daytime sleepiness caused by sleep apnea? Everyone feels tired now and then, but excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is different. It’s a persistent, heavy fatigue that doesn’t go away even after a full night’s rest. It’s the kind of tired where you find yourself dozing off while reading, watching a movie, or even during a conversation at work. If your exhaustion is constant and interferes with your ability to function and enjoy your day, that’s a sign that it’s more than just normal tiredness.

My partner says I should get checked for sleep apnea. What is the first step I should take? Listening to your partner is a great first step, as they are often the first to notice the nighttime symptoms. The next move is to schedule a consultation with a sleep specialist. This initial appointment isn’t a huge commitment; it’s simply a conversation. You’ll discuss your symptoms, your partner’s observations, and your overall health. From there, the specialist can determine if a sleep study is the right next step to get a clear diagnosis.

If I lose weight, will my sleep apnea go away completely? For some people, yes. If your sleep apnea is mild and primarily caused by excess weight, losing that weight can sometimes resolve the condition entirely. It reduces the fatty tissue around your throat, which can open up your airway. However, this isn’t a guarantee for everyone. Many people have sleep apnea due to their anatomy, like their jaw structure or the size of their tonsils. In those cases, weight loss is still incredibly beneficial for your health and can reduce the severity of your apnea, but you may still need treatment like an oral appliance to fully resolve your symptoms.