Annual medical checkups typically cover the basics: diet, exercise and mental state. Surprisingly, one of the fundamental contributors to well-being: sleep.

We are who study . We have both experienced this omission with our own doctors, even though we represent different ages and genders.

When asked, almost everyone has complaints about their sleep, yet most people fail to prioritize sleep. But poor sleep shouldn’t be ignored.

One particularly problematic sleep disorder is , and it is not rare. The condition affects nearly , estimates suggest, and the number . In October 2025, former basketball star Shaquille O’Neal was featured in for sleep apnea. But much greater awareness is needed.

The most common type of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, is characterized by , often resulting in sleepiness during the day, headaches or snoring – or a combination of these – and in the long term, .

Patients may not fit the : The stereotype is that the ones with sleep apnea are older males trending toward obese. Others may find that their sleep-related complaints are overlooked at wellness checks. These are missed opportunities for gathering critical health information that is . Sleep apnea thus remains and .

Sleep apnea is not just about sleep

Sleep apnea is more than a sleep disorder. While it manifests when you are sleeping, with repeated partial or total pauses of breathing during sleep – termed and – its effects extend far beyond the night.

Repeated apneas and hypopneas tend to occur alongside reductions in oxygen levels in the brain and body. These episodes can happen more than 100 times per hour and on average . Despite brief awakenings that can occur after a person with sleep apnea stops breathing, by the morning they usually don’t remember ever pausing their breathing.

Reduced oxygen then leads to , which stresses the cardiovascular system. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to a host of cardiovascular diseases, such as , and . Sleep apnea is also associated with , as in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Beyond health effects, the disorder is linked to , a and , as well as for .

A growing problem meets new solutions

The growing prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea reflects multiple factors. Greater and have helped.

At the same time, and have also contributed to the rise in cases diagnosed.

The treatment of sleep apnea has also advanced considerably over the past 20 years. The standard treatment for sleep apnea is , or CPAP, which prevents airway collapse with a stream of air through the mouth or nose.

However, people often report that CPAP , and for some the . For those who dislike CPAP, . include oral appliances to , , and .

Nevertheless, new treatment approaches are still needed. In late 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved tirzepatide – the active ingredient in the GLP-1 drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound – for . The drug helps by lowering body weight, given that excess weight is associated with the disorder.

Both new and long-standing treatments for sleep apnea can be effective in reducing the detrimental health consequences. Yet these advances raise an important question: Who gets diagnosed and ultimately benefits from the treatments – and who doesn’t?

Who gets diagnosed – and who gets missed

Despite the growing prevalence of sleep apnea, diagnosis and treatment do not occur equally across populations. Women with sleep apnea often experience , – symptoms that do not mention.

, and differences in compared to men all suggest that to improve healthcare for women with sleep apnea.

Many of the current diagnostic tools and .

on the finger detects decreases in blood oxygen, a key marker of sleep apnea screening and diagnosis. These finger oximeters are , which likely leads to underestimates of severity.

At the same time, Medicaid beneficiaries in the U.S., who are , are more likely to be , despite the finding that than their white counterparts.

What you can do

Your probability of getting a referral to a specialist increases ninefold when you . And there’s no need to be overly concerned about undergoing a sleep study in a hospital. to diagnose sleep apnea.

If you or your bed partner have any suspicions based on even a small subset of the possible symptoms of sleep apnea, bring it up with your healthcare provider. Mention any daytime symptoms, such as excessive sleepiness or headaches, and any nighttime symptoms, such as frequent urination, waking up short of breath, snoring or insomnia.

Starting the conversation may be the first step toward diagnosis and treatment – and to better health and well-being.