Sleep Health and Sleep Apnea Symptoms | Resmed
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Feeling drained? Waking up tired? Relying on coffee every day?

For many people, these feelings—along with irritability, lack of focus or frequent snoring—are common signs of sleep apnea.

Sound familiar? Complete a brief 3-5-minute assessment to understand your sleep better.

Take the sleep assessment

Step 1: Listen to your body. Recognize signs of a sleep disorder

No one knows you like you—which means you’re likely the first to notice when you don’t feel like yourself. Sleep, along with nutrition and exercise, plays an important role in your health and well-being.1 Unfortunately, poor sleep quality frequently gets overlooked and is often blamed on life activities or as a normal part of aging.2

Recognizing sleep apnea symptoms is an important step on your journey to better sleep. Snoring, mood swings, headaches, consistent daytime tiredness and exhaustion are common symptoms of sleep apnea—a disorder that affects over 1 billion people worldwide of all shapes, sizes, genders and ages. And while that may sound jarring, just know that more than 80% of people living with sleep apnea being undiagnosed, you’re not alone.3

So, what exactly is sleep apnea?

Imagine that while you’re sleeping—when your body should recharge for the next day—your breathing slows down or stops for seconds or minutes at a time. That’s sleep apnea: A sleep disorder which causes the muscles in the throat to relax and restrict airflow. As this cycle repeats throughout the night, it can deprive the body of the oxygen it needs to function at its best, day after day.

The real impact goes beyond just the physical. It can also affect us mentally and emotionally, leaving you constantly feeling like you’re running on a half-empty tank.

Picture someone with sleep apnea.
Who do you see?

Do they snore? Are they male? Are they older? Are they struggling with other health problems? While it’s true that people who fit this profile may be at risk for sleep apnea, they’re not the only ones.

Debunking myths about sleep apnea risk factors

Gender

While sleep apnea does occur in men, 202 million women across the globe have sleep apnea, too.4

Weight

Obesity may raise sleep apnea risk. However, 30% of people diagnosed with sleep apnea are not obese.5

Age

While sleep apnea may be more common in older adults, 16% of people under 30 have sleep apnea.6

Physical Features

For some, physical features, such as neck size or enlarged tonsils, may elevate sleep apnea risk.7

Menopause

In women over 50, post-menopausal status is associated with higher sleep apnea risk.8, 9

Snoring

Snoring ≠ sleep apnea. Not all people who snore have sleep apnea, and not all people who have sleep apnea snore.

The bottom line: Sleep apnea can affect almost anyone.

While some signs—like age and gender—are more well-known, sleep apnea symptoms will vary from person-to-person. And if left untreated, sleep apnea may increase your risk other health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and stroke.10

Fill out the form below to take the sleep assessment and learn more about your sleep.

Online sleep assessment

Dive deep with our questionnaire to uncover common sleep issues like obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, and snoring.

Your sleep assessment responses and recommendations will be sent to your inbox. The assessment takes about 3-5 minutes to complete.

Please note this sleep assessment is not suitable for individuals under 18 years of age.

Step 2: Start the conversation about sleep with your doctor

Feeling better starts with talking to your doctor. They can help determine if you need a sleep test and may refer you to a sleep specialist as the next step. You can also explore virtual care options to consult with a medical professional from your home.

Save this tool for helpful guidance on starting the conversation and questions to ask during your next visit.

Download now

Step 3: Discuss sleep test options with your doctor

What happens next? Will you need a sleep test?
During your appointment, you and your doctor will decide together what happens next based on your symptoms and medical history. They may refer you to a sleep specialist to further assess how you’re feeling. In some cases, they may suggest a sleep test. A sleep test collects information from your body as you sleep. Your doctor can use this information to determine if you have a sleep disorder.

Sleep tests: No studying required

Tests you can sleep through

A sleep test is a non-invasive, overnight test that is used to determine if you have a sleep disorder. It’s more than just a tool for diagnosing sleep apnea—it paints a better picture of your health by collecting information like oxygen levels, heart rate, brain waves and breathing patterns as you sleep.

What sleep test options are available?

If you’re feeling uneasy about going to a sleep lab, we get it. Your bed is cozy, why leave it? The good news is that 60% to 70% of sleep studies for sleep apnea are done using home-based tests.11

Home sleep test (HST):

Your doctor may recommend a home sleep test if you’re showing symptoms of a sleep disorder and have not been diagnosed with any other chronic medical conditions. HSTs can be conveniently completed from the comfort of your own bed, reducing the amount of time you have to wait to get tested.12

In-lab polysomnography sleep study (PSG):

Your doctor may recommend an in-lab sleep test if you have a more complex medical history and may benefit from comprehensive sleep monitoring. PSGs are usually conducted overnight in a sleep lab, where a trained lab technician can monitor your sleep.12

Find a sleep clinic near me
FAQs on sleep testing

Most insurance plans, including Medicare, may help pay for sleep tests, doctor visits and CPAP equipment if they are medically needed. You may have a copay for the doctor’s visit and part of the sleep test cost. Insurance often lowers the total price—check with your provider to see what’s covered.

Waiting to receive the results of any test can feel unsettling—especially when it’s a test to diagnose a sleep disorder. There’s a waiting period that varies from person-to-person and can range from 2 days up to several weeks.

During a follow-up appointment, you’ll discuss the results of your sleep test with a doctor or sleep specialist. If diagnosed with sleep apnea, this is typically when you’ll find out your Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), which determines the severity of the diagnosis.

If breathing stops for more than 10 seconds, this is known as an apnea. Apneas can occur dozens—even hundreds—of times per night without you noticing. When breathing slows down but doesn’t stop completely, this is considered a hypopnea. With a sleep test, doctors can use a scale called the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) to measure how many times per hour you either pause or stop breathing each night.13

The first step after any diagnosis is figuring out how best to treat it. And with sleep apnea, it’s important that treatment begins as soon as possible. The good news is that sleep apnea is well-understood, and effective treatments for sleep apnea are available.

Understanding your options for treatment can help you and your doctor make an informed decision about the steps you can take next.

Step 4: Learn about available treatments

Getting diagnosed with any condition can cause mixed emotions. If you’ve recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea, then you know how a diagnosis can feel like one step closer to restful sleep.

Think about it like this: You finally have an answer for why, despite getting plenty of rest, you haven’t felt refreshed and recharged. It’s why you’ve been struggling to concentrate at work or feel like there’s never enough coffee to get through the day. You can put a name on the thing that’s been making you feel irritable, moody and simply not like you.

The problem isn't you—it’s sleep apnea.
So, how do you treat it?

You’ve got options. Talking with your doctor is the first step in learning more about which sleep apnea treatment options are available and which one is best for you. These options may include:

 

CPAP therapy

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a drug-free sleep apnea treatment that, when used as directed, can help alleviate some symptoms after the first night of use.14, 15

Lifestyle changes

Following a healthy lifestyle can help improve symptoms of sleep apnea. This includes eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and refraining from smoking or drinking alcohol.19

Oral appliances

An oral appliance, or a mandibular repositioning device (MRD), is a mouthpiece that adjusts your jaw position while you sleep. This keeps your airway open, allowing you to breathe easier through the night.19

Medications

Recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), obesity medication may be considered for the treatment of moderate-to-severe sleep apnea in adults with obesity.16

Surgical procedures

If CPAP or other therapies haven’t worked for you, there are more invasive, surgical procedures that can be performed. Surgery is normally considered a last resort for treating sleep apnea.17

Learn more

Step 5: CPAP therapy for better sleep and days

Everyone’s journey to better sleep is personal. For millions of people worldwide, that means using CPAP therapy to treat their sleep apnea. CPAP therapy is highly effective and is the most used and most understood method of treating sleep apnea.18

For years, people with sleep apnea have been enjoying the benefits of CPAP—including improved mood, focus, memory, productivity and energy levels.19 CPAP has also been shown to reduce the overall risk of death by as much as 37% and the risk of cardiovascular-related death by 55%.20 Plus, treating sleep apnea with CPAP may reduce the risk of motor vehicle crashes by 52% and stroke by 31%.21

“I’m a teacher, coach, father—CPAP gave me energy.” – Mike

“Freedom to sleep well is life-changing.” – Stacy

“I feel refreshed when I wake up in the morning.” – Matt

Disclaimers:
The content on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Please note CPAP devices and sleep tests require prescription. Always refer to the device’s user guide for detailed and appropriate use instructions. Consult your healthcare professional/provider if you are concerned or have questions with your sleep health or treatment options.

References:

  1. Source: Lloyd-Jones DM, et al., (2022). Circulation.
  2. Source: Leger D, et al., (2024). BMJ Public Health.
  3. Source: Gurubhagavatula I, et al., (2023). Obstructive Sleep Apnea Indicator Report. American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
  4. Source: Wimms, A et al. Global prevalence of mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea in females. Sleep. 2023;46(Supplement_1)A234-A23
  5. Source: Gray EL, McKenzie DK, Eckert DJ. Obstructive Sleep Apnea without Obesity Is Common and Difficult to Treat: Evidence for a Distinct Pathophysiological Phenotype. J Clin Sleep Med. 2017 Jan 15;13(1):81-88. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.6394. PMID: 27655455; PMCID: PMC5181619.
  6. Source: Zasadzińska-Stempniak K, Zajączkiewicz H, Kukwa A. Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Young Adult Population: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2024 Feb 28;13(5):1386. doi: 10.3390/jcm13051386. PMID: 38592210; PMCID: PMC10931680.
  7. Source: Spicuzza L, Caruso D, Di Maria G. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and its management. Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease. 2015;6(5):273-285. doi:10.1177/2040622315590318
  8. Source: Thompson et al. Sci Rep 12, 5127 (2022).
  9. Source: Young T, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003;167(9):1181.
  10. Source: Knauert et al., (2015). World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, 1(1), 17–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wjorl.2015.08.001.
  11. Source: Corliss, J., (2020). Harvard Health.
  12. Source: Kapur et al. J Clin Sleep Med. 2017 Mar 15;13(3):479-504.
  13. Source: Heinzer, R., et al., Prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in the general population: the HypnoLaus study. Lancet Respir Med, 2015
  14. Source: Djonlagic et al., (2015). Sleep Med.
  15. Source: Sleep Foundation, 2024. Before and after CPAP. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/cpap/before-and-after-cpap-machine-body-changes
  16. Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021, June 16). FDA approves first medication for obstructive sleep apnea. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-medication-obstructive-sleep-apnea
  17. Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (n.d.). Treatment for sleep apnea. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea/treatment
  18. Source: Understanding PAP, 2021. Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
  19. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001916.htm
  20. Source: Benjafield, A et al., (2025). The Lancet Resp Med. DOI: 10.1016/S2213-2600(25)00002-5.
  21. Source: Pietzsch, Jan B., (2011). SLEEP. DOI: 10.5665/SLEEP.1030
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