Millions of people in the UK may have sleep apnoea without knowing it, a condition that can reduce life expectancy by a decade and increase the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. A recent report in The Lancet estimates that around eight million people in the UK could be affected, yet only a fraction are diagnosed.
Dr Prina Ruparelia, a respiratory consultant at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, warns that undiagnosed sleep apnoea is a serious health issue. “We need to raise awareness of this condition,” she says. The disorder causes breathing to stop and start during sleep, often without the person waking fully aware. In severe cases, breathing can stop every minute for over 10 seconds.
Common symptoms include loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, and daytime exhaustion. However, many people remain unaware they have the condition until a partner notices the signs. “Often people don’t realise and it’s their partners who might notice,” explains Dr Ruparelia. “The snoring and the gasping for air are red flags.”
Sleep apnoea is not limited to older, overweight men; it can affect people of all ages, genders, and body types. Even slim women in their 40s can develop it. In one case, a BBC journalist who considered herself fit was diagnosed with mild obstructive sleep apnoea after a home sleep study revealed she stopped breathing 10 times per hour, each episode lasting about 30 seconds.
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is the most common form, caused by relaxation of throat muscles that block the airway. Central sleep apnoea occurs when the brain fails to signal the breathing muscles. Both types lead to drops in blood oxygen and increased heart rate. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, CPAP machines, and in some cases surgery.
With waiting lists for sleep studies stretching months to a year, home test kits are being used to speed up diagnosis. Each kit costs thousands of pounds but allows patients to be tested in their own homes. Dr Ruparelia urges anyone who suspects they may have sleep apnoea to seek medical advice, as early diagnosis can prevent serious long-term health consequences.
