If you’ve been told you snore loudly, wake up gasping for air, or feel exhausted despite spending eight hours in bed, you might be dealing with obstructive sleep apnea. This common sleep disorder affects millions of Canadians, yet many people don’t realize they have it until a partner notices their breathing stops during sleep.
Understanding obstructive sleep apnea helps you recognize the symptoms, know when to seek help, and explore treatment options that can dramatically improve your sleep quality and overall health. This guide covers everything you need to know about OSA, from what causes it to how doctors diagnose it across Canada’s healthcare system.
What is obstructive sleep apnea and why does it happen?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when your throat muscles repeatedly relax during sleep, blocking your airway and causing breathing interruptions that can last from a few seconds to over a minute. These episodes happen because the soft tissues in your throat collapse, preventing air from reaching your lungs properly.
Sleep apnea comes in three main types:
- Obstructive sleep apnea – The most common form, accounting for about 84% of all cases, where throat muscles relax and block the airway
- Central sleep apnea – Occurs when your brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing
- Mixed sleep apnea – Combines both obstructive and central elements in the same patient
Understanding these different types helps explain why OSA is so prevalent and why proper diagnosis is crucial. During an apnea episode, your blood oxygen levels drop, which triggers your brain to wake you up just enough to restart breathing. This process repeats throughout the night, sometimes hundreds of times, preventing you from reaching the deep, restorative sleep stages your body needs.
Common symptoms that signal you might have sleep apnea
Sleep apnea symptoms appear both during sleep and throughout your waking hours. Nighttime symptoms include loud, chronic snoring that’s often interrupted by choking or gasping sounds. You might experience episodes where breathing stops completely, followed by sudden awakenings where you feel like you’re choking or can’t catch your breath.
Daytime symptoms of OSA significantly impact your quality of life and include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness – Feeling tired no matter how long you stayed in bed, often the most common complaint
- Morning headaches – Caused by low oxygen levels during sleep, typically occurring upon waking
- Dry mouth or sore throat – Results from mouth breathing and airway obstruction during sleep
- Cognitive difficulties – Including problems with concentration, memory issues, and mental fog
- Mood changes – Irritability, depression, and emotional instability due to sleep deprivation
These symptoms create a cascade of health issues because your brain doesn’t get the restorative sleep it needs to function properly. Recognizing this pattern of nighttime disruption and daytime consequences is key to identifying when you need professional evaluation.
Who gets sleep apnea and what increases your risk
Several factors increase your likelihood of developing obstructive sleep apnea. Age plays a significant role, with adults over 40 facing higher risk. Men are approximately five times more likely to develop OSA than women, though the risk for women increases after menopause.
Key risk factors include:
- Physical characteristics – Excess weight, particularly around the neck (17+ inches in men, 16+ inches in women), thick soft palate, enlarged tonsils, or receding chin
- Medical conditions – Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) all elevate OSA risk
- Genetic factors – Family history of sleep disorders increases your likelihood of developing OSA
- Lifestyle factors – Smoking, alcohol consumption, and sedative use worsen symptoms by relaxing throat muscles
Understanding these risk factors helps explain why OSA affects certain populations more than others and why lifestyle modifications can be so effective as part of treatment. Multiple risk factors often combine to create the perfect conditions for airway obstruction during sleep.
How doctors diagnose sleep apnea in Canada
Sleep apnea diagnosis in Canada typically begins with a consultation where your doctor reviews your symptoms and medical history and conducts a physical examination. They might ask you to complete sleep questionnaires that assess your daytime sleepiness and sleep quality.
Level 3 sleep studies provide an effective and accessible way to diagnose sleep disorders. These home sleep tests use portable devices to monitor breathing patterns, oxygen levels, respiratory effort, and heart rate in the comfort of your own bed. Level 3 studies are ideal for patients with moderate to severe symptoms and offer several key advantages:
- Convenience – Complete the test in your own bedroom environment for more natural sleep patterns
- Accessibility – Available with shorter wait times compared to other diagnostic options
- Accurate diagnosis – Provide comprehensive data to confirm sleep apnea and determine severity
- Cost-effective – Efficient diagnostic approach that gets you answers faster
Results are measured using the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), which counts breathing interruptions per hour. An AHI of 5–14 indicates mild sleep apnea, 15–29 shows moderate severity, and 30 or higher represents severe OSA. Level 3 sleep studies provide the diagnostic information needed to move forward with appropriate treatment.
Treatment options that actually work for sleep apnea
Effective sleep apnea treatment typically involves multiple approaches tailored to your specific needs and severity level. The key to successful treatment lies in starting therapy promptly after diagnosis to prevent health complications and improve your quality of life:
- CPAP therapy – The most effective treatment, delivering steady air pressure through a mask to keep airways open, with modern devices being quieter and more comfortable
- Oral appliances – Custom-fitted devices that reposition your jaw and tongue for mild to moderate OSA, especially useful for CPAP-intolerant patients
- Lifestyle modifications – Weight loss (even 10% reduction helps), side sleeping, and avoiding alcohol/sedatives before bed
- Surgical options – Range from tissue removal to jaw repositioning for severe cases where other treatments haven’t worked
The benefits of starting treatment after diagnosis are immediate and long-lasting. Patients typically experience better sleep quality within the first week, increased daytime energy and alertness, improved mood and cognitive function, and reduced risk of serious health complications like heart disease and stroke. Many patients report that treating their sleep apnea transforms not just their sleep but their entire quality of life.
When to see a sleep specialist about your symptoms
You should consult a sleep specialist if you experience loud snoring combined with daytime fatigue, witnessed breathing interruptions during sleep, or morning headaches. Don’t wait if you have gasping episodes that wake you up or if excessive sleepiness affects your work performance or driving safety.
Prepare for your consultation by keeping a sleep diary for at least a week, noting your bedtime, wake time, and how rested you feel. Bring a list of current medications and any medical conditions, as these can influence your treatment options.
During your appointment, expect a thorough discussion of your symptoms, sleep habits, and medical history. Your specialist might recommend a Level 3 sleep study if your symptoms suggest sleep apnea, allowing you to get tested quickly and start treatment sooner.
Access to sleep care services varies across Canada, but most provinces offer both public and private options. Referrals from family doctors can help you navigate the healthcare system, though some clinics accept direct appointments for faster access to care.
Sleep apnea affects your health in ways that extend far beyond feeling tired. Left untreated, OSA increases your risk of serious health complications including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The good news is that effective treatments exist, and most people experience significant improvement in their symptoms and quality of life with proper care. At Dream Sleep Respiratory, we’ve been helping Albertans achieve better sleep since 2011, offering comprehensive Level 3 sleep studies and personalized treatment plans across our multiple locations. If you recognize these symptoms in yourself, don’t wait to seek help. Quality sleep isn’t a luxury; it’s necessary for your health and well-being.
If you would like to learn more, contact our team of experts today.