Do I have sleep apnoea? Snoring, tiredness and a home sleep study

Written by Sama Samy

Medically reviewed by the medical team at The Wellness. Last reviewed November 2026.

Obstructive sleep apnoea causes loud snoring, pauses in breathing at night, gasping or choking, and tiredness during the day despite a full night in bed. NICE estimates that 5% of UK adults have undiagnosed sleep apnoea. It is diagnosed with an overnight sleep study, usually done at home. The Online GP by The Wellness offers a sleep consultation from £450 and a home sleep study from £1,395.

Key points

  • Sleep apnoea means your airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep, so breathing stops and starts through the night.

  • NICE estimates that 5% of adults in the UK have undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnoea.

  • A partner often notices the signs first: loud snoring, pauses in breathing, gasping or choking.

  • Untreated sleep apnoea is linked to high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes and accidents caused by tiredness.

  • The Online GP by The Wellness offers a Sleep Consultation and Assessment from £450 and a Home Sleep Study from £1,395.

What are the signs of sleep apnoea?

The signs of sleep apnoea are loud snoring, pauses in breathing that a partner notices, gasping or choking at night, waking often, morning headaches, and feeling tired, irritable or unable to concentrate during the day.

Many people put the tiredness down to work or age. The NHS guide to sleep apnoea notes that the signs during sleep are often easier for a bed partner to see than for you to notice yourself.

Who is most at risk of sleep apnoea?

Sleep apnoea is more likely if you carry extra weight, have a large neck, are older, drink alcohol or smoke, sleep on your back, or have a family history of the condition. Large tonsils and some face and jaw shapes also narrow the airway.

It is common and often missed. The NICE guideline on obstructive sleep apnoea (NG202) estimates that 5% of adults in the UK have the condition without a diagnosis.

Ask a doctor on WhatsApp whether your snoring needs a sleep study.

How is sleep apnoea diagnosed?

Sleep apnoea is diagnosed with an overnight sleep study. You wear small sensors that record your breathing, oxygen levels and heart rate while you sleep, usually in your own bed. A doctor then reads the recording and scores how often your breathing pauses each hour.

That score, the apnoea-hypopnoea index, grades sleep apnoea as mild, moderate or severe, which guides treatment. Some people need a full study in a sleep laboratory, called polysomnography, when the picture is less clear.

Snoring on its own is common and often harmless. Snoring with daytime sleepiness, high blood pressure or witnessed pauses is different, and a sleep study gives a clear answer.

How is sleep apnoea treated?

Sleep apnoea is treated according to its severity. Mild cases may improve with weight loss, less alcohol and changing sleep position. Moderate and severe cases are usually treated with CPAP, a quiet machine that keeps the airway open through a mask, or with a custom mouthpiece in selected cases.

If sleep apnoea causes excessive sleepiness, you may need to tell the DVLA, and you should not drive until symptoms are controlled. Our guide to high blood pressure you may not know about explains another reason to treat it early.

Ask a doctor on WhatsApp about sleep apnoea treatment.

What happens when I book a sleep assessment?

A sleep assessment at The Online GP by The Wellness starts with your sleep history and symptoms, continues with a home sleep study if it is needed, and ends with a doctor explaining the result and the treatment that fits.

  1. Message the team on WhatsApp with your symptoms and, if you can, what your partner has noticed.

  2. A doctor reviews your history and recommends a consultation, a home sleep study or both.

  3. You wear the sleep study sensors overnight in your own bed.

  4. A doctor reads the full recording and grades the result.

  5. You receive a clear explanation and a treatment plan, with referral for CPAP or a specialist opinion if needed.

Studied overnight. Explained by a doctor.

How much does a private sleep study cost in London?

A Sleep Consultation and Assessment at The Online GP by The Wellness costs £450. A Home Sleep Study costs £1,395, and full Polysomnography costs £3,450. CBT for Insomnia costs £1,495, and the Sleep Programme costs £2,995.

Most people with snoring and daytime tiredness start with a Sleep Consultation and Assessment. The doctor then advises whether a Home Sleep Study is needed. Book a sleep assessment on WhatsApp.

Can a doctor tell me whether I need a sleep study?

Yes. Send your age, your symptoms, what your partner has noticed and any conditions you have on WhatsApp. A doctor tells you whether a sleep study would help or whether a consultation is enough to start.

Start your free suitability review on WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions

Is snoring always sleep apnoea?

No. Many people snore without sleep apnoea. Snoring with pauses in breathing, gasping or daytime sleepiness is more likely to be sleep apnoea and is worth assessing.

Can I do a sleep study at home?

Yes. Most sleep studies are now done at home with small sensors worn overnight. Some people need a full study in a sleep laboratory if the home result is unclear.

Do I have to tell the DVLA about sleep apnoea?

You may need to tell the DVLA if sleep apnoea causes excessive sleepiness. You should not drive until symptoms are controlled. The doctor explains the current rules.

Can sleep apnoea be cured?

Some mild cases improve with weight loss and lifestyle changes. Moderate and severe sleep apnoea is usually controlled well with treatment such as CPAP rather than cured.

Sources

Sama Samy
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