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Obstructive sleep apnea

Medically reviewed by Valerie Cacho, MD, board-certified sleep medicine physician

 

In short: With obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the soft tissues of the throat relax and narrow the airway during sleep, so breathing pauses or becomes shallow again and again. Each pause briefly wakes the brain, often without you noticing, which can leave you exhausted no matter how long you sleep. It is common, under-diagnosed and very treatable.

 

Common signs

  • Loud, frequent snoring, or a partner noticing pauses in your breathing

  • Waking up gasping, choking or with a racing heart

  • Feeling unrefreshed in the morning and sleepy during the day

  • Morning headaches, a dry mouth or sore throat on waking

  • Trouble focusing, irritability or low mood

  • Getting up often at night to urinate

 

Who is more likely to have it

Carrying extra weight, getting older, a family history of sleep apnea, a naturally narrow airway or large tonsils, ongoing nasal congestion and smoking all raise the risk. It is often found alongside high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Men are diagnosed more often, but women's risk climbs after menopause, and women are more likely to report fatigue, insomnia or headaches than classic snoring.

 

Why treatment matters

Left untreated, sleep apnea strains the heart and blood vessels and is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and irregular heart rhythms. Daytime sleepiness also raises the risk of accidents, including drowsy driving.

 

How we diagnose and treat it

Your visit starts with a consultation with a board-certified sleep physician. Many patients can then use a home sleep apnea test in their own bed; others are referred to an accredited partner sleep lab.

 

Treatment is matched to you. Options may include CPAP, an oral appliance made by a dentist, positional therapy, weight management and, for people who can't tolerate CPAP, Inspire therapy. Our patients' CPAP compliance runs 77–86% (ResMed data, 2025).

 

Think you might have sleep apnea?

Book an appointment in person in Fullerton, Los Alamitos or Ewa Beach, or by telehealth anywhere in California and Hawaii. Call (657) 553-3799 in California or (808) 500-7077 in Hawaii.

 

Source: Mayo Clinic, "Obstructive sleep apnea." This page is for education only and is not a substitute for a medical evaluation.

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