Overview
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder in which the throat muscles intermittently relax and block the airway during sleep, causing repeated episodes of stopped breathing. Each episode typically lasts 10 seconds to a minute and can occur hundreds of times a night, disrupting sleep quality. OSA is associated with significant health risks including hypertension, heart disease, and stroke, and is largely underdiagnosed.
Causes and risk factors
The following factors are associated with the development of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea:
- Excess weight and obesity — fat deposits narrow airway
- Large neck circumference
- Narrowed airway (anatomical factors)
- Being male — more common in men
- Older age
- Family history
- Use of alcohol, sedatives, or tranquillisers
- Smoking
- Nasal congestion
- Sleeping on back
Signs and symptoms
Common signs and symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea include:
- Loud snoring
- Witnessed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep
- Gasping or choking awaking from sleep
- Morning headaches
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability and mood changes
- Dry mouth or sore throat on waking
- Reduced libido
- Nocturia (frequent urination at night)
Diagnosis
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is typically diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and appropriate investigations such as blood tests, imaging, or specialist review, depending on the specific condition and presentation. Your doctor will consider all relevant symptoms and risk factors before making a diagnosis.
Treatment options
Treatment approaches for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea may include:
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) — most effective treatment
- Mandibular advancement device for mild to moderate OSA
- Weight loss — can resolve OSA in some cases
- Sleeping on side rather than back
- Avoiding alcohol and sedatives
- Surgery to remove excess tissue in some cases
- Nasal decongestants
- Treating underlying causes
Prevention
Maintain healthy weight, avoid alcohol and sedatives, stop smoking, sleep on side, treat nasal congestion.
Complications
If left untreated or poorly managed, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea can lead to complications including:
Hypertension, heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and increased accident risk due to daytime sleepiness.
Sources and references: This article is written in accordance with NHS UK, WHO, and Mayo Clinic clinical guidelines. It is reviewed for accuracy by the SymptomSense content team. ICD-10 code: G47.3. Last reviewed June 2026.