Health & wellbeing2 min read

Recognising sleep apnoea

The signs are easy to dismiss, and often noticed by someone else first. What to look for and what to do next.

Stone Surgical ArtsOriginally published December 3, 2024Updated September 9, 2026

Perspective from Stone Surgical Arts

Sleep apnoea is common and frequently goes undiagnosed for years, partly because its main symptoms occur while you are asleep and partly because daytime tiredness has many explanations.

A thought to keep

If someone has noticed you stop breathing in your sleep, that is worth a conversation with a clinician regardless of how you feel during the day.

The signs

Loud, habitual snoring; pauses in breathing observed by a partner; gasping or choking on waking; waking unrefreshed despite adequate time in bed; and persistent daytime sleepiness are the common features.

Morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability and low mood are also reported, and are easily attributed to other things.

Why it is worth pursuing

Untreated sleep apnoea is associated with high blood pressure, heart disease and other conditions, and with the risks that come from sleepiness, including at the wheel.

It is also treatable. The tiredness that people assume is simply their life often improves substantially once the underlying disorder is addressed.

How it is diagnosed

Diagnosis is made with a sleep study, either at home or in a laboratory, which records breathing and oxygen levels through the night. Symptoms alone are not sufficient because they overlap with other conditions.

Start with your own clinician, who can arrange the assessment. Bring an account from whoever sleeps near you, as it is often the most useful part of the history.

After a diagnosis

Treatment is chosen according to severity and to where the airway is obstructing, and ranges from positional and lifestyle measures to positive airway pressure, oral appliances and, in selected cases, surgery.

Jaw advancement is one of the surgical options and falls within oral and maxillofacial surgery. It is considered alongside the others rather than as a first step.

Adapted from the Stone Surgical Arts archive and updated for clarity. This article offers general information; an individual consultation is needed for treatment advice.