Left untreated, sleep apnoea raises the risk of serious health conditions including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Sleep apnoea is categorised into three types based on what causes the breathing interruptions.

1. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is the most common form and occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax excessively during sleep, causing the airway to narrow or close. This triggers snoring, choking, or gasping as the body works to resume breathing. In Singapore, moderate to severe OSA is estimated to affect up to 30% of the adult population.
2. Central sleep apnoea (CSA) involves the brain failing to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. Unlike OSA, there is no physical obstruction of the airway, but the effort to breathe temporarily stops.
3. Complex sleep apnoea syndrome, also called treatment-emergent central sleep apnoea, is a combination of both obstructive and central sleep apnoea. It is typically identified when OSA does not fully resolve with standard treatment.

Several physical and lifestyle factors increase the likelihood of developing sleep apnoea. Understanding these risk factors can help you assess whether you may be affected.

Risk Factor	How It Contributes
Excess weight	Fat deposits around the upper airway narrow the breathing passage. Obesity is the strongest modifiable risk factor for OSA, and weight loss can reduce its severity.
Age	Throat muscle tone decreases naturally with age, making the airway more prone to collapse during sleep.
Sex	Men are two to three times more likely to develop sleep apnoea than women. The gap narrows after menopause due to hormonal changes that affect airway muscle tone.
Anatomical features	A narrow throat, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, large tongue, or recessed jaw reduces the space available for airflow during sleep.
Neck circumference	A neck greater than 40 cm (women) or 43 cm (men) is associated with a narrower airway and higher OSA risk.
Alcohol and sedatives	Both relax the throat muscles beyond their normal resting state, increasing the likelihood of airway collapse. The risk is highest when consumed within a few hours of bedtime.
Smoking	Increases inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway, raising the risk of developing OSA.
Nasal congestion	Chronic blockage from allergies or a deviated septum (a misalignment of the wall between the nasal passages) makes it harder to breathe through the nose, which can cause the airway to collapse more easily during sleep.
Family history	Inherited traits such as jaw shape, airway dimensions, and soft tissue volume can predispose individuals to airway obstruction during sleep.

The most recognisable symptom of sleep apnoea is loud, persistent snoring, often accompanied by episodes of stopped breathing observed by another person. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnoea, and not everyone with sleep apnoea snores.

Because many of these symptoms develop gradually, people often attribute them to stress, ageing, or a busy lifestyle.

Untreated sleep apnoea affects multiple systems in the body, with repeated drops in blood oxygen levels and frequent sleep disruptions contributing to cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and cognitive impairment over time.

• Cardiovascular disease – Sleep apnoea is strongly associated with high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms (atrial fibrillation), heart failure, and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
• Daytime impairment – Chronic sleep deprivation leads to excessive sleepiness, poor concentration, and slower reaction times, increasing the risk of road accidents and workplace injuries.
• Metabolic and diabetes risk – Sleep apnoea disrupts glucose metabolism and increases insulin resistance, raising the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It also affects hormones that regulate appetite, contributing to weight gain that can further worsen the condition.
• Mental health – Persistent poor sleep is linked to depression, anxiety, and irritability.

A sleep study is the standard method for diagnosing sleep apnoea. Diagnosis typically begins with a clinical evaluation and may progress to an overnight monitoring test.

The severity of sleep apnoea is measured by the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI), which counts the number of breathing disruptions per hour of sleep.

Both home sleep tests and in-lab polysomnography use similar measures to classify severity, though the exact calculation may differ slightly between the two methods.

Severity	AHI (events per hour)
Normal	Fewer than 5
Mild	5 to 14
Moderate	15 to 29
Severe	30 or more

Treatment for sleep apnoea depends on its type, severity, and underlying cause. Most treatment plans combine lifestyle modifications with one or more therapies to keep the airway open during sleep.

Positional Therapy

Some patients experience sleep apnoea mainly when sleeping on their back. Positional therapy devices help maintain side sleeping throughout the night. These range from wearable sensors that vibrate when you roll onto your back, to specially designed pillows and sleep aids.

Oral Appliances

Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) reposition the lower jaw slightly forward during sleep, which helps keep the airway open. These custom-fitted dental devices are an option for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea, or for patients who find continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) difficult to tolerate.

Oral appliances are less bulky than CPAP and are convenient for travel. They are typically fitted by a dentist with training in sleep medicine.

Surgery

Surgical options may be considered when other treatments are not effective or when a structural issue is clearly contributing to airway obstruction.

Procedures vary depending on the cause and may include removal of excess throat tissue (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty), removal of enlarged tonsils or adenoids, repositioning of the jaw to enlarge the airway space (maxillomandibular advancement), or implantation of a device that stimulates the hypoglossal nerve to prevent the tongue from blocking the airway during sleep.

Surgery is generally reserved for specific cases and is discussed after a thorough evaluation by a sleep specialist or ENT surgeon.

At ATA Medical, we provide consultations and home testing for sleep apnoea diagnosis and management.

We offer the Belun Ring® home sleep study, a convenient ring-worn device that tracks blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and body position from the comfort of your own bed.

Test	Price*^
Consultation with our GP / Family Physician	From $49.05
Home Sleep Test
Belun Ring® Sleep Study	$300

*Prices are NETT and inclusive of GST.
^Prices last updated on Apr 15, 2026. While every effort is made to keep pricing information up to date, please contact our team to confirm the latest rates.

At ATA Medical, we strive to make a meaningful impact on every patient's health. With over 150,000 patients served, we are dedicated to fostering trust and enhancing well-being across our community.