Picture this: you wake up after sleeping for eight hours but feeling like you haven’t slept at all. You're exhausted and struggling to focus during your 10AM meeting even though your sleep tracking app shows you got plenty of rest.
This is what millions of Americans face daily living with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). What’s more: while millions suffer from this not-so-silent disorder, more than 80% of those who have OSA remain undiagnosed.
Sleep apnea doesn’t just make you tired — it affects your energy, relationships, mood, and even career performance. Untreated OSA can lead to daytime sleepiness, mood disorders, and higher risks of workplace and auto accidents. On the bright side, treatment can restore your health, focus, and quality of life.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
OSA occurs when breathing repeatedly stops and starts throughout the night while someone is sleeping. This can lead to snoring, gasping for air, and microawakenings that someone might not even be aware of. Usually a bed partner or friend is the one to politely (or maybe not so politely) wake them up and point out their symptoms.
What most people might not be aware of is that sleep apnea doesn’t just affect the person with the condition - it can affect almost everyone in their life.
The Reality of Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea
What is it like to live with undiagnosed OSA? A variety of symptoms and concerns are possible - with some that you may not expect.
We know that up to 46% of patients with at least moderate OSA experience excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), which can make daily activities feel overwhelming. This constant state of exhaustion can start to impact many areas of life including:
- Difficulty concentrating on a work task, or even a conversation
- Impaired job performance
- Falling asleep at inappropriate times such as during an event, at the movies, or even worse, while driving.
- Mood disturbances like depression or anxiety
- Chronic headaches, especially in the morning
- Elevated blood pressures despite taking medication
Chris, an Ognomy Sleep patient, had an eye opening experience to share. “I was driving and the next thing I knew I was in the oncoming lane and don't even remember getting there. I nodded off while I was driving. My energy was down, my strength was starting to decrease, and my weight had started to increase.”
How Does Sleep Apnea Impacts Relationships and Your Social Life?
OSA doesn't just affect your sleep or energy levels; it can have a profound impact on your relationships and social life. Sufferers often feel too exhausted to go out or attend events with friends and family. There can also be social embarrassment with OSA. Many people might start to ask themselves:
- Should I take that weekend trip with my friends?
- Will my snoring affect this new romantic relationship?
These are reasonable concerns to have when you are unsure how to navigate the situation. Even in an established relationship, about 41% of people with sleep apnea sleep apart from their spouse at least once a month. This can lead to a strain on relationships, both romantic and platonic.
In addition, the prevalence of mood disorders is significantly higher in individuals with OSA - 22% compared to 9% in the general population. Mood disorders can lead to self-isolation and withdrawal from the relationships that provide comfort and support - further impacting social life.
Can Sleep Apnea Affect My Work or Job Performance?
Everyone goes to work wanting to do their best. But, undiagnosed sleep apnea might be sabotaging your efforts. The constant fatigue can lead to dozing during meetings, struggles with decision-making on an upcoming project, and workplace accidents. In fact, the odds of a workplace accident was found to be nearly double in workers with OSA. For sure, everyone has days where they are ‘off’ at work, as we are all human. But those who have moderate to severe OSA were three times more likely to lose their job involuntarily compared to those without OSA. So the impact that OSA can have on your professional career can be serious.
What Happens After Treating Sleep Apnea?
While OSA can negatively impact your life, there are treatment options that help manage the symptoms to alleviate some of these concerns.
Within weeks of beginning CPAP therapy or other treatments for sleep apnea, people may start to experience newfound energy levels, allowing them to once again enjoy the things they used to. In one study, anxiety and depression symptoms significantly improved after just three months of CPAP treatment. Relationships that were experiencing “sleep divorce” are now sharing the same bed again. As we say at Ognomy Sleep, quiet spouse, happy house!
It can be hard to ask for help, or be open with your friends and family about what you are dealing with. But, having a solid support system is a great predictor on how well you stick to treatment. Treatment for OSA can take time to get used to, and it can take time to start to feel the benefits. But for those who continue treatment, great long-term health benefits are possible to attain.
Get Tested for Sleep Apnea — From the Comfort of Home with Ognomy Sleep
Now you know that sleep apnea affects more than just you and your sleep; it can impact your relationships, your mental and physical health, and even your career. Luckily, OSA is easy to test for, especially with virtual care. And a shorter time to diagnosis means a shorter time to treatment - and feeling better! At Ognomy Sleep, we offer home sleep tests so you are able to complete the test from the comfort of your bed. You then meet with a sleep specialist to discuss your results, and to come up with a treatment plan that is right for you.. Let’s talk about how we can help remove any barriers that might be affecting your sleep and your day-to-day life - Schedule an appointment today.
