What is sleep apnoea?

Sleep apnoea (often spelt sleep apnea) is when your breathing stops and starts many times while you sleep¹. The most common kind, obstructive sleep apnoea, happens when the airway in your throat narrows or closes during sleep². Most people who have it don't know, because it happens at night.

What it can look like

Loud snoring¹
Gasping, snorting or choking noises in the night¹
Someone else noticing your breathing stop and start¹
Feeling very tired during the day, finding it hard to concentrate, or waking with a headache¹

A partner or someone you share a room with is often the first to notice¹.

Who is more likely to have it

It is more common in people who are overweight, have a large neck, are getting older, drink alcohol or smoke, or sleep on their back. Children and young adults can have it too¹.

How common it is

A 2019 study estimated that close to a billion adults aged 30 to 69 worldwide have some degree of obstructive sleep apnoea³. There is no national measure for South Africa yet. In one small study of 75 older adults in rural South Africa, about 3 in 10 had moderate sleep apnoea or worse that had never been diagnosed⁴.

Why it's worth finding out

Left untreated, sleep apnoea can be serious¹. The good news is that it can be tested for, and there are treatments that help⁵. If any of this sounds familiar, a GP is a good place to start.

You can also take the free SleepPath assessment, a set of questions that can help you decide whether to talk to someone⁶. It is not a test and it can't tell you whether you have sleep apnoea⁷.