Sleep Apnoea Test in London. Find Out Why You Wake Up Tired

Last updated June 2026

Medically reviewed by the GMC-registered doctors at The Online GP by The Wellness

If you snore heavily, wake up unrefreshed, and feel sleepy through the day, the cause may be obstructive sleep apnoea, a common and very treatable condition that most people never get tested for. Left undiagnosed it raises the risk of high blood pressure, heart problems and accidents. This guide explains the signs, how a home sleep test works, and how to get diagnosed quickly in London rather than waiting many months.

Snoring and always exhausted. Message The Online GP by The Wellness on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.

What is sleep apnoea and what are the signs

Obstructive sleep apnoea, or OSA, is a condition where the airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep, briefly stopping your breathing and disturbing your sleep without you fully waking. The main signs are loud snoring, gasping or choking in the night, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, and problems with concentration and memory.

The pattern is the giveaway. The throat relaxes too much during sleep and blocks the airway, your oxygen dips, your brain rouses you just enough to reopen it, and the cycle repeats many times an hour, all night. You may not remember any of it, but you wake exhausted. A partner often notices the snoring and the alarming pauses before the person affected does. Beyond the tiredness, untreated OSA is linked to high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, type 2 diabetes and a higher risk of road accidents from drowsiness. That is why it is worth diagnosing rather than dismissing as just snoring.

How is sleep apnoea diagnosed

Sleep apnoea is diagnosed with a sleep study. For most people a home sleep apnoea test is the right first step, a small device worn overnight at home that measures your breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate and snoring. More complex cases may need an in-lab study. The result gives an apnoea hypopnoea index, or AHI, that grades severity.

The reassuring part is how easy testing has become. A modern home sleep test is posted to you or collected at the clinic, worn for a night or two in your own bed, and returned, with results usually within a few days. It measures the key signals needed to diagnose OSA and grade how severe it is, and for most people it is as accurate as a hospital study for this purpose. The AHI score, the number of breathing interruptions per hour, guides treatment. A doctor interprets it alongside your symptoms rather than leaving you with a raw number, which is what turns a test into a diagnosis and a plan.

To get tested at home and get answers fast, enquire on WhatsApp here.

How is sleep apnoea treated

Sleep apnoea treatment depends on severity. Options include CPAP therapy, where a machine delivers gentle air pressure through a mask to keep the airway open, a mandibular advancement device worn in the mouth, positional therapy, and lifestyle changes such as weight management and reducing alcohol. Most people improve markedly once treated.

The right treatment follows the diagnosis. For moderate to severe OSA, CPAP is the most effective treatment and transforms how people feel, restoring proper sleep and energy. For milder cases or those who cannot tolerate CPAP, a custom mouth device that holds the jaw forward can work well, and positional therapy helps people who only have problems sleeping on their back. Lifestyle changes support all of these. Treating OSA does more than fix tiredness, it lowers the associated risks to the heart and blood pressure. A doctor matches the treatment to your severity and your preferences, and adjusts it as needed.

How does The Online GP by The Wellness help with sleep apnoea

The Online GP by The Wellness is the go-to first point of contact for sleep concerns, providing doctor-led assessment, arranging a home sleep study, and interpreting your results, then connecting you with trusted sleep and ENT specialists for CPAP setup, a mouth device, or surgical assessment when needed.

The whole pathway is built to be fast and joined up. A GMC-registered doctor assesses your symptoms and risk, arranges a home sleep test, and explains the results clearly, including what your AHI means and what to do next. Because untreated OSA is tied to blood pressure and heart risk, the doctor can also check those at the same time. Where treatment such as CPAP or a mandibular device is needed, the team connects you with established sleep and ENT partners and coordinates your care, rather than sending you off to start again. With NHS sleep clinic waits often running many months, this fast route from symptom to diagnosis to treatment is the real advantage.

For a fast diagnosis and a clear treatment plan, message us on WhatsApp.

Why not just wait for the NHS

Private testing matters because NHS sleep clinic waits can stretch from many months to over a year, and untreated sleep apnoea affects your health, your work and your safety every single day in the meantime. A private home sleep test gives you a diagnosis in days rather than months.

The cost of waiting with OSA is not just feeling tired. It is months of disturbed sleep, raised blood pressure, strained concentration, and the genuine danger of drowsiness behind the wheel. For something so treatable, that delay is hard to justify when a faster route exists. Private testing lets you confirm or rule out OSA quickly, start effective treatment, and feel the difference within weeks. For many people, a proper night's sleep restored is life-changing.

Frequently asked questions

What are the signs of sleep apnoea

The main signs are loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, and problems with concentration or memory. A partner often notices the snoring and breathing pauses first.

How is sleep apnoea tested at home

A small device is worn overnight at home and measures your breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate and snoring, giving an apnoea hypopnoea index that grades severity. Results are usually back within a few days, interpreted by a doctor.

How is sleep apnoea treated

Treatment depends on severity and includes CPAP therapy, a mandibular advancement device worn in the mouth, positional therapy, and lifestyle changes. Most people improve markedly once treated. A doctor matches the treatment to you.

Is sleep apnoea dangerous if untreated

Untreated sleep apnoea is linked to high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, type 2 diabetes and a higher risk of accidents from drowsiness, which is why diagnosing and treating it matters.

How quickly can I be tested

A home sleep test can usually be arranged within days through The Online GP by The Wellness, with results back shortly after and explained by a doctor. Message on WhatsApp to start.

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