Loud snoring
Especially when interrupted by silent pauses.
Health education · SleepSaint‑Hyacinthe
Sleep apnea: understanding the symptoms, risks and diagnosis
Snoring, breathing pauses, fatigue or drowsiness: when should you think of sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea causes repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, which last 10 to 30 seconds and occur several times a night.1 These pauses fragment sleep. Often, it is the spouse or partner who notices the snoring, the pauses or the awakenings with a choking sensation.
At the Clinique IPS du Palais in Saint-Hyacinthe, a consultation makes it possible to assess your symptoms and risk factors, and then determine whether a sleep study is indicated.
Signs to recognize
Six signs that should make you think of sleep apnea
Breathing pauses
Often observed by the partner.
Choking at night
Sudden awakenings with a need to catch your breath.
Drowsiness
A tendency to doze off during the day.
High blood pressure
A frequent association to consider.
Unrefreshing sleep
Sleeping enough without feeling rested.
Snoring does not automatically mean having sleep apnea. It is the combination of symptoms, risk factors and, when necessary, a sleep study that makes it possible to establish the diagnosis.
Understanding
What is sleep apnea?
The word “apnea” refers to an interruption of breathing. During sleep, airflow is greatly reduced or stops repeatedly.
Each episode usually ends with a micro-arousal, so brief that the person does not remember it. Repeated several times during the night, these micro-arousals prevent truly restorative sleep: you can spend eight hours in bed without feeling rested.
It can have consequences for:
- sleep quality and quality of life;
- alertness and concentration;
- cardiovascular health;
- safety behind the wheel and at work.
Types
Obstructive, central or mixed
Obstructive sleep apnea
This is the most common form: the upper airway becomes blocked during sleep, often because the soft tissues of the throat collapse.1
The person keeps making efforts to breathe, but air passes poorly or not at all.
Central sleep apnea
Less common, it is not caused by an obstruction: the signal that controls breathing becomes temporarily insufficient.1
It may be associated with certain medical conditions or certain medications.
Mixed sleep apnea
Some people have both obstructive and central events. Treatment is then adapted to the type of events observed during the sleep study.
Symptoms
At night and during the day
During sleep
- loud snoring followed by silent pauses;1
- pauses in breathing;3
- a choking sensation or shortness of breath;1,3
- restless sleep, interrupted by micro-arousals;3
- frequent need to urinate;3
- sweating.3
The partner is often the first to notice the pauses.
During the day
- drowsiness, including behind the wheel;1
- fatigue;3
- morning headaches;1,3
- irritability and mood swings;1
- poor concentration or memory loss;1
- loss of libido.1
The intensity of symptoms varies greatly from one person to another.
Know the difference
Fatigue or sleepiness? They are not the same thing.
The distinction is particularly important in sleep apnea, because drowsiness can have safety consequences, especially behind the wheel.
- FatigueLack of energy, a feeling of exhaustion.
- SleepinessAn actual tendency to fall asleep.
Does snoring mean having sleep apnea?
No.
Snoring is common in obstructive sleep apnea, but not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Conversely, not having noticed any snoring is not enough to rule it out.
The more concerning signs: loud snoring, silent pauses, choking at night, daytime drowsiness, high blood pressure or several risk factors.
Who can develop sleep apnea?
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, men are diagnosed almost twice as often as women, and 75% of people diagnosed are aged 45 or over.2 Excess weight also increases the risk.1
However, a slim person can have sleep apnea, and sleep apnea can also occur in younger people. Weight alone is therefore not enough to establish or rule out the diagnosis.
Overall health
Why sleep apnea matters for your health
Left untreated, sleep apnea can cause serious problems. The Public Health Agency of Canada mentions high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, motor vehicle collisions, depression, decreased libido and workplace injuries.1
High blood pressure
Adults diagnosed with sleep apnea report high blood pressure about 1.8 times more often.2 Obstructive sleep apnea is also one of the possible causes of secondary hypertension.4
It may be investigated especially when blood pressure is difficult to control.
Heart and blood vessels
Heart disease is reported about 2.2 times more often in people diagnosed with sleep apnea.2
This does not mean that everyone with sleep apnea will develop these diseases: sleep apnea is one factor to consider in the overall assessment.
Diabetes and metabolic health
Diabetes is reported about 2.5 times more often in adults diagnosed with sleep apnea.2 An overall assessment considers blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol and lifestyle habits.
The role of weight
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, losing as little as 10% of body weight can greatly reduce the number of breathing pauses.1
Not everyone with excess weight has sleep apnea, and the reverse is also true. Treatment should not be delayed in the hope of losing weight: the two approaches can go hand in hand.
Alcohol and tobacco
The Public Health Agency of Canada and the SAAQ recommend limiting or avoiding alcohol and quitting smoking.1,5
Drinking alcohol close to bedtime can worsen certain symptoms.
Medications
Some medications that cause drowsiness can affect breathing or alertness.
This does not mean that a prescribed medication should be stopped: any change should be discussed with the professional responsible for your care.
Sleep apnea and driving
According to the SAAQ, sleep apnea can cause drowsiness that prevents you from reacting to changes in traffic, as well as an increased risk of crashes, particularly among professional drivers.5
The SAAQ recommends following your treatment plan and avoiding driving if sleep apnea is not treated. Appropriate treatment allows you to keep driving safely.5
If you have trouble keeping your eyes open, fall asleep involuntarily or have near-misses, do not keep driving: stop in a safe place and have the cause assessed.
How is possible sleep apnea assessed?
The assessment begins with a detailed history: snoring, pauses, choking, fatigue, drowsiness, morning headaches, blood pressure, cardiovascular history, medications, alcohol, weight and other health problems.
The partner can describe what the sleeping person does not notice. Validated questionnaires help estimate the likelihood of sleep apnea, but do not confirm the diagnosis on their own.
Diagnosis
How is the diagnosis confirmed?
When sleep apnea is suspected, a sleep study may be necessary: a test done at home with sensors, or a more complete polysomnography at the hospital.3
The home sleep test
A device worn during the night records certain parameters, such as breathing, airflow, oxygen, heart rate or position.
It can be useful when obstructive sleep apnea is strongly suspected, but it is not suitable for every situation.
Polysomnography
More complete, it is done in a sleep laboratory. It records, among other things, brain activity, eye and muscle movements, breathing, oxygen and heart rhythm, which makes it possible to precisely analyze sleep stages and respiratory events.
Severity
The study calculates, among other things, the number of respiratory events per hour. The result is interpreted together with the drop in oxygen, symptoms, other diseases and the type of test.
A normal test despite symptoms?
It is possible. Insomnia, circadian rhythm disorder, restless legs, narcolepsy or other causes of fatigue can produce symptoms without significant sleep apnea.
What about my smartwatch?
It can draw attention to a problem (oxygen, heart rate, snoring), but it does not replace a validated diagnostic study.
Treatment
How is obstructive sleep apnea treated?
Treatment depends on severity, symptoms, anatomy, other medical conditions, tolerance and your preferences.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
This is the most widely used treatment: a device delivers pressurized air through a mask to keep the airways open.1
It is usually not oxygen. To be effective, the device must be used regularly and properly fitted.
Mandibular advancement device
A removable device worn in the mouth at night holds the jaw slightly forward. According to the Collège des médecins, the Ordre des dentistes and the Ordre des inhalothérapeutes du Québec, it is an effective option for many patients, after diagnosis by a physician, fitted by a qualified dentist.6
Positional therapy
In some people, obstructions are more frequent when lying on the back. Sleeping on your side can then help.1,7
It is not recommended for everyone: in cases of severe sleep apnea, CPAP remains the best treatment according to the Canadian Sleep Society.7
Can I stop CPAP when I feel better?
Not simply because symptoms have improved: the improvement is often the result of the treatment. Stopping should be discussed with the team providing the follow-up.
Can sleep apnea go away?
It depends on its cause. Significant improvement is possible in some people, for example after weight loss. In others, it is a chronic condition. A new sleep study is sometimes necessary before drawing a conclusion.
Seeking care
When should you see a professional?
Not all snorers need a test: snoring alone does not have the same significance as snoring accompanied by pauses and significant drowsiness.
Act quickly if you fall asleep at the wheel or have a near-miss, or in case of uncontrollable drowsiness, respiratory distress, loss of consciousness or acute cardiovascular or neurological symptoms. An emergency should not wait for a sleep assessment.
An assessment is relevant if you have:
- loud snoring or observed breathing pauses;
- awakenings with choking;
- significant fatigue despite enough hours of sleep;
- daytime drowsiness or falling asleep involuntarily;
- frequent headaches on waking;
- high blood pressure that is difficult to control;
- sleep-related concentration problems.
Sleep apnea assessment in Saint-Hyacinthe
At the Clinique IPS du Palais, an initial assessment makes it possible to determine whether your symptoms are consistent with sleep apnea: sleep habits, snoring, reported pauses, fatigue, drowsiness, blood pressure, weight when relevant, medications, alcohol, cardiovascular history, metabolic health and other nighttime symptoms.
If the assessment suggests sleep apnea, appropriate investigation may be recommended to confirm or rule out the diagnosis and guide management.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
I snore. Do I have sleep apnea?
Not necessarily. Snoring is common in obstructive apnea, but not everyone who snores has it.
My partner says I stop breathing. Should I see someone?
Yes. Breathing pauses observed during sleep are a good reason to have the possibility of apnea assessed.
I sleep eight hours but I am exhausted. Is that possible with apnea?
Yes. Apnea can repeatedly fragment sleep without you remembering the micro-arousals.
Does sleep apnea only affect people who are overweight?
No. Weight is an important risk factor, but a person who is not overweight can also have sleep apnea.
Is a home test enough?
In some situations, yes. In others, an in-laboratory polysomnography is preferable. The choice depends on the clinical context.
Is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) the only treatment?
No. It is the most widely used treatment, but other options, such as a mandibular advancement device or positional therapy, may be suitable for some people.
Is it dangerous to drive with sleep apnea?
It can cause drowsiness that prevents you from reacting to changes in traffic and increases the risk of a crash. The SAAQ recommends avoiding driving if sleep apnea is not treated and following your treatment plan.
Can sleep apnea be treated by losing weight alone?
Not always. Weight loss can reduce breathing pauses in some people, but it does not necessarily replace other treatments.
Key takeaways
Sleep apnea causes repeated interruptions in breathing during the night. Its main signs are snoring, breathing pauses, choking at night, fatigue, drowsiness, headaches on waking and reduced concentration.
It is associated with several cardiovascular and metabolic conditions and can increase the risk of crashes when it causes drowsiness.
Diagnosis is based on a clinical assessment and, when necessary, a sleep study. Effective treatments exist.
Sources
- Public Health Agency of Canada. L’apnée du sommeil. Modified August 15, 2017, accessed October 5, 2026. canada.ca
- Public Health Agency of Canada. Quel est l’impact de l’apnée du sommeil sur les Canadiens? Accessed October 5, 2026. canada.ca
- Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM). Apnée du sommeil (health fact sheet). Revised September 2021, accessed October 5, 2026. chumontreal.qc.ca
- Hypertension Canada. Hypertension Highlights 2020 : A Practical Guide informed by the Hypertension Canada Guidelines. 2020, accessed October 5, 2026. hypertension.ca (PDF)
- Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ). Conditions médicales (sleep apnea). Accessed October 5, 2026. saaq.gouv.qc.ca
- Collège des médecins du Québec, Ordre des dentistes du Québec and Ordre professionnel des inhalothérapeutes du Québec. Apnée obstructive du sommeil – Information pour le patient avisé (launch press release). October 6, 2016, accessed October 5, 2026. opiq.qc.ca (PDF)
- Canadian Sleep Society. La thérapie positionnelle pour l’apnée obstructive du sommeil (brochure distributed by Horizon Health Network). Undated, accessed October 5, 2026. horizonnb.ca (PDF)
The information on this page is provided for informational purposes and does not replace an assessment by a health professional.