Understanding Sleep Apnea in Singapore
Waking up exhausted despite sleeping all night? Snoring so loudly your partner can't sleep? Gasping for air or experiencing morning headaches? You may have obstructive sleep apnea—a common but serious sleep disorder affecting 1 in 3 Singaporean adults. The good news: it's treatable.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a potentially serious sleep disorder where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This happens when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much, causing your airway to narrow or close completely—sometimes for 10 seconds or longer.
When your airway becomes blocked, your blood oxygen levels drop dramatically. Your brain senses this oxygen deprivation and briefly wakes you up—just enough to reopen your airway—often without you even realizing it. These disruptions can happen dozens or even hundreds of times per night, preventing you from reaching deep, restorative sleep stages.
In Singapore, research suggests that approximately 1 in 3 adults may have some degree of sleep apnea, with prevalence increasing with age. Despite its commonness, an estimated 80-90% of cases remain undiagnosed—many people attribute their symptoms to stress, aging, or just "poor sleep."
Left untreated, OSA significantly increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The chronic sleep deprivation also affects your daily life: mood, concentration, work performance, and even driving safety (OSA patients are 7x more likely to have traffic accidents).
Types of Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Most common type—caused by physical blockage of the airway when throat muscles relax
Central Sleep Apnea
Brain doesn't send proper signals to breathing muscles (less common)
Complex Sleep Apnea
Combination of both obstructive and central sleep apnea
Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Many people don't realize they have sleep apnea. Here are the warning signs.
- •Loud, chronic snoring
- •Gasping or choking during sleep
- •Pauses in breathing (often noticed by partner)
- •Frequent nighttime urination
- •Restless sleep or insomnia
- •Night sweats
- •Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking
- •Excessive daytime sleepiness
- •Morning headaches
- •Difficulty concentrating or memory problems
- •Mood changes (irritability, depression)
- •Fatigue despite "full" night's sleep
- •Decreased libido
- •Falling asleep during activities
When to See a Doctor
If you experience loud snoring combined with excessive daytime sleepiness, or if your partner observes pauses in your breathing during sleep, consult a doctor. Don't wait—untreated sleep apnea has serious health consequences.
Health Risks of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea isn't just about poor sleep—it significantly increases your risk of serious health conditions.
- • 3x higher risk of heart disease
- • 4x higher risk of stroke
- • Increased risk of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias)
- • Higher blood pressure
- • 2x higher risk of Type 2 diabetes
- • Weight gain and difficulty losing weight
- • Metabolic syndrome
- • Fatty liver disease
- • 7x higher risk of car accidents
- • Depression and anxiety
- • Cognitive decline and memory issues
- • Complications with medications and surgery
How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?
Accurate diagnosis requires a sleep study to measure how often your breathing stops and your oxygen levels during sleep.
You'll spend a night at a sleep clinic where specialists monitor:
- • Brain activity (EEG)
- • Eye movements
- • Oxygen levels
- • Heart rate and rhythm
- • Breathing patterns
- • Body position and limb movements
Cost in Singapore: $800 - $1,500 (subsidized rates available at public hospitals)
Take home a portable device that monitors:
- • Oxygen levels
- • Heart rate
- • Breathing patterns
- • Airflow
Who it's for: Patients with suspected moderate-severe OSA and no other sleep disorders
Cost: $300 - $800 (more affordable option)
Understanding Your Results: AHI (Apnea-Hypopnea Index)
The AHI measures how many times per hour your breathing stops (apnea) or becomes shallow (hypopnea) during sleep. This is the primary metric for diagnosing and categorizing sleep apnea severity.
Other important metrics measured:
- • Oxygen desaturation index: How often blood oxygen drops below 90%
- • Sleep efficiency: Percentage of time actually sleeping vs. in bed
- • Sleep stages: Distribution of REM and deep sleep (often disrupted in OSA)
- • Arousal index: How often your brain wakes from sleep
What Happens After Your Sleep Study
Your sleep specialist will review your results and explain:
- • Your AHI score and OSA severity classification
- • Oxygen levels during sleep and cardiovascular impact
- • Recommended treatment options tailored to your specific case
- • Next steps: CPAP titration study, surgical evaluation, or other interventions
When Should You See a Sleep Specialist?
Many people delay seeking help for sleep apnea, attributing symptoms to stress or aging. Don't wait—early diagnosis and treatment can prevent serious health complications.
- •Your partner observes you stop breathing during sleep
- •You wake up gasping or choking for air
- •You've fallen asleep while driving or during important activities
- •You have heart disease, stroke, or diabetes combined with snoring/fatigue
- •Your blood pressure is difficult to control despite medication
- •You snore loudly and chronically (most nights)
- •You feel excessively tired during the day despite sleeping 7-8 hours
- •You wake up with morning headaches regularly
- •You have difficulty concentrating or memory problems
- •You've experienced mood changes or irritability
How to Get Started in Singapore
Visit Your GP or Polyclinic
Get a referral to an ENT specialist or sleep physician. Public route: Typically referred to public hospital sleep centers (SGH, TTSH). Private route: Can choose your preferred specialist.
Direct Specialist Consultation (Private)
Many private ENT clinics and sleep centers accept direct bookings without GP referral. Faster appointments (often within 1 week) but higher costs—usually claimable under insurance.
Use SleepBetterSG (Free Service)
Our patient care team will help you find the right specialist based on your symptoms, location, insurance coverage, and preferences. No obligation, completely free.
Who's At Risk for Sleep Apnea?
While anyone can develop sleep apnea, certain factors significantly increase your risk.
Weight & Body Type
- • Obesity (BMI ≥30): 4x higher risk
- • Neck circumference >17" (men) or >16" (women)
- • Central obesity (belly fat)
Age & Gender
- • Age 40+: Risk doubles every decade
- • Men: 2-3x more likely than women
- • Post-menopausal women: Risk equalizes with men
Anatomical Factors
- • Enlarged tonsils/adenoids
- • Deviated septum or nasal obstruction
- • Small jaw or recessed chin
- • Large tongue relative to mouth size
Lifestyle Factors
- • Smoking: 3x higher risk (inflammation)
- • Alcohol use: Relaxes throat muscles
- • Sedative medications
- • Back sleeping position
Medical Conditions
- • High blood pressure
- • Type 2 diabetes
- • Heart disease
- • Stroke history
- • PCOS (women)
Family History
- • Genetic predisposition: 2-4x risk if family member has OSA
- • Inherited facial structure
- • Ethnicity: Higher risk in Asian populations (narrower airways)