Dennis Gaviola

Article (news)

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Many people think that snoring is just a normal part of sleep. But for some, it can be a sign of a serious and often ignored condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Experts say OSA is a common sleep-related disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep because an individual’s airway becomes blocked.Sleep specialist Dr. Romulus Roberto Peter Instrella explains OSA happens when the muscles in the throat relax during sleep, causing the airway to narrow or collapse. When this happens, airflow is blocked, oxygen levels drop, and the brain is forced to wake the body up briefly to restore breathing.“If you snore loudly, it’s followed by gasping for breath. You are not energized waking up in the morning. So what will you feel? You feel  tired, you have a headache. You are with poor cognition. Sometimes, even memory loss,” he said.This cycle can happen dozens times throughout one’s sleep which, most of the time, goes unnoticed.<div>WHY IT’S DANGEROUS</div>As sleep keeps getting interrupted, the body never fully reaches deep, restorative stages of sleep. Eventually, this doesn’t just cause fatigue. It can seriously affect overall health.Instrella warns that untreated obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of:- High blood pressure- Heart disease and heart attack- Stroke- Memory problems and poor concentration- Daytime sleepiness, which raises the risk of accidents- Long-term disability and early death in severe casesRepeated episodes of gasping for air cause stress and inflammation in blood vessels, which can lead to narrowing of arteries and increased blood pressure which puts a strain on the heart and brain.<div>SNORING VS. SLEEP APNEA: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?</div>The good news is that not all snoring is dangerous. Snoring happens when relaxed throat muscles narrow the airway and vibrating tissues create sound. This alone can be normal.What’s not normal is:- Loud snoring- Breathing interruptions during sleep- Gasping or choking sounds at night- Waking up feeling tired despite long hours of sleep- Morning headaches- Poor focus, memory problems- Feeling exhausted during the dayThese are common warning signs of obstructive sleep apnea.OSA can affect all age groups, but risk increases with age. It is also more common among:- People who are overweight or obese- Those with thick neck circumference- People with nasal, throat, or jaw structure issues- Individuals with family history of sleep apnea- Older adultsMen are generally more at risk than women, and the likelihood increases significantly after age 30.“Once you reach 30 years of age, meron ng higher chance na you might have a 24% for males that you might have obstructive sleep apnea or loud snoring. For females, it&#x27;s only 9%. At age 35 to 55, meron ka ng chances of 30 to 60% that you might have a mild obstructive sleep apnea. If you&#x27;re senior citizen, there&#x27;s already a three-fold increase.”<div>WHY SLEEP STUDIES MATTER</div>Doctors say the only reliable way to properly diagnose obstructive sleep apnea is through a sleep study conducted in a sleep center. During this test, sensors are attached to the body to monitor brain activity, breathing patterns, oxygen levels, heart rate, muscle activity and sleep stagesThe study allows specialists to see whether breathing is being repeatedly interrupted and how severe the condition is.Normally, healthy sleep cycles move through multiple stages, including deep sleep and Rapid Eye Momvement (REM) (dream) sleep. Those with OSA don&#x27;t often get past light sleep stages because their rest keeps getting disrupted by breathing interruptions thereby preventing proper physical and mental recovery.<div>EARLY DETECTION IS KEY</div>Doctors stress that many people live for years with sleep apnea without knowing it, often dismissing symptoms as “normal pagod” or stress.Aside from sleep studies, doctors also recommend consulting an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist to check for physical causes of airway blockage such as nasal obstruction, enlarged tonsils, or structural issues in the throat.Many people put sleep at the bottom of a list of priorities especially in this fast-paced and highly digital environment. But what must be realized is that is is a basic health requirement. Ignoring it will eventually lead to serious illness.If snoring is loud, breathing stops during sleep, or waking up always feels exhausting despite enough hours of rest, it may not just be poor sleep habits. It could be obstructive sleep apnea. And the sooner it’s detected, the better the chances of preventing long-term problems.

Many people think that snoring is just a normal part of sleep. But for some, it can be a sign of a serious and often ignored condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Many people think that snoring is just a normal part of sleep. But for some, it can be a sign of a serious and often ignored condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

What is obstructive sleep apnea and why it should not be ignored

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What is obstructive sleep apnea and why it should not be ignored

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 24, 2026 12:50 AM PHT

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Updated Jan 24, 2026 07:48 AM PHT

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East Avenue Medical Center

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