Host (Adam):
Sleep apnea is a common chronic disorder where we stop breathing during sleep, continually waking just as we’re entering deep sleep — again and again throughout the night.

It is the opposite of a good, restful, restorative night’s sleep. Unfortunately, it can be very hard to detect and easy to ignore. The majority of people with sleep apnea don’t even know they have it.

Despite how sneaky it is, sleep apnea can have a much greater effect on your day-to-day life than you might think.

To tell us more, we’re joined by the founder and CEO of CPAP Direct, Bryce Perron. Bryce, welcome to Healthy Living.

Bryce Perron: Thanks, Adam. Appreciate it.

Host:
It’s lovely to have you here. I mentioned how sleep apnea can affect our day-to-day life. Could you elaborate on that? How will someone with sleep apnea feel, both in the short and long term?

Bryce:
Many people with sleep apnea don’t realise they have it. During the night, most notice snoring or choking — and it’s usually the partner who witnesses it, not the person themselves.

When we fall asleep, the brain relaxes the muscles around the throat. As they narrow, the vibrations cause snoring. For people with sleep apnea (like myself and millions of others across Australia), the airway closes completely. This starves the brain of oxygen until the brain wakes us up to take a breath.

Imagine drifting into deep sleep and then being pulled out of it every one, two or three minutes — all night, every night. The deep stages of sleep are repeatedly broken. People often experience brain fog, constant tiredness and lethargy — feeling almost zombified. It can also affect short-term memory and put strain on relationships.

Host:
You mentioned feeling tired, but most people can list many reasons for tiredness — a busy lifestyle, stress, age. Is there a difference between normal tiredness and the kind caused by sleep apnea?

Bryce:
It’s the same kind of tiredness, but the key difference is that it doesn’t matter how much sleep you get.

If you’re sleeping eight or nine hours and still wake up really tired and lethargic, that’s a strong indication that something isn’t working properly while you’re asleep.

The science of sleep is incredible — the brain and body do so much restorative work overnight. If sleep quality or quantity is disrupted, it shows up the next day.

If you have good sleep hygiene, go to bed at a consistent time, and get a full night of quality sleep, you shouldn’t feel tired the next day.

Host:
So if you’re doing everything right but still feel tired, it’s definitely time to ask more questions.

You also mentioned that partners are often the first to notice it, and snoring is a common signal. Is snoring always associated with sleep apnea?

Bryce:
Not always — but it is a common side effect and often a red flag.

My wife at the time told me, “You need to do something about that snoring or you’re going to be sleeping in the spare room — or we’re not getting married.” I had a sleep study and found out I was stopping breathing 28 times an hour.

The snoring was what prompted her to push me to look into it. I had just become used to being tired and thought that’s what busy people feel like. Once I discovered I was stopping breathing that often, everything made sense.

It’s usually the partner who encourages people to take action. We see this all the time in our clinics across Australia — people arriving under protest because their partner insisted.

Host:
Partners are often the ones who march people through the doors to get treated, because so many get used to feeling tired and think it’s normal. It’s only after treatment that they realise life can be so much better.

If someone listening is connecting the dots about their own tiredness and suspects they might have sleep apnea, what’s the first step?

Bryce:
If you suspect you’re not getting the quality of sleep you need, the first step is to speak to your doctor. Tell them you’d like a sleep study and ask for a referral.

Your doctor can refer you to Sleep Testing Australia for a home sleep test. Once the referral comes through, the test is done in your own bed, giving a good snapshot of a typical night’s sleep.

The device measures brain waves, sleep stages, respiratory effort, cardiovascular health and more. The data is reviewed by independent sleep physicians who provide a formal diagnosis — whether you have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder.

A sleep study is comprehensive and really the missing piece that shows what’s happening while you’re unconscious.

Host:
Thank you so much. This has been very enlightening, Bryce. Thanks for being on Healthy Living tonight.

Bryce: Pleasure. Thank you, Adam.

Host:
That’s CEO and founder of CPAP Direct, Bryce Perron.
Stop snoring and get your mojo back with CPAP Direct at CPAP.com.au.