Sleep apnoea, a serious condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, has seen diagnoses in the UK rise by 214% over the past decade. New analysis of NHS data by The Odd Company, a sleep brand launching its Not “Just Tired” campaign, has revealed the sharp increase. The figures, obtained through Freedom of Information requests, are part of an effort to raise public awareness of symptoms that are often dismissed as ordinary tiredness.
The condition causes the airway to become partially or fully blocked during sleep, leading to interrupted breathing. If left untreated, it can result in serious health problems including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and an increased risk of accidents due to daytime drowsiness. Dr Deborah Lee, working with The Odd Company, explained that untreated sleep apnoea can cause fatigue, poor concentration, and significant health issues.
Loud, chronic snoring is one of the most common signs. Dr Lee said: “When you fall asleep, the muscles and tissues around the airway and back of the throat relax, meaning the airway is partially or sometimes completely blocked, making it hard or impossible to breathe. As the sufferer struggles to pass air in and out of their airway, they can be heard snuffling, snorting and snoring loudly. The OSA sufferer actually stops breathing for an agonising 20 to 30 seconds.”
Other symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea include waking throughout the night, daytime fatigue, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings. Dr Lee noted that these symptoms often go unnoticed because they occur during sleep. She explained, “The person does not really wake up. They just rouse slightly but it is enough to interrupt the sleep pattern. And this can happen up to 30 times an hour in severe cases. They have no memory of what has happened in the morning. Over a whole night, these frequent interruptions lead to the sufferer waking in the morning feeling unrefreshed and tired. The OSA sufferer is often completely unaware this is such an issue – after all, they are asleep.”
The NHS also lists additional symptoms such as breathing stopping and starting, gasping, snorting, choking noises, and frequent waking. Obesity is a leading cause, as excess fat around the neck and throat narrows the airway. Other contributing factors include a large neck circumference, smoking, alcohol use, and a family history. Treatments include lifestyle changes such as weight loss and quitting smoking, as well as medical options like continuous positive airway pressure machines, which help keep the airway open, or surgery in some cases.
The Odd Company’s analysis found more than 2.36 million sleep apnoea diagnoses were recorded between 2014 and 2024, with cases increasing from 114,640 in 2014 to 360,070 in 2024. This represents an average annual rise of 13.69%, or around 27,270 new diagnoses per year. Their forecasting model suggests that 448,400 new cases could be diagnosed in 2030, nearly four times the number recorded in 2014.
Dr Lee explained: “This huge rise is largely due to the obesity crisis. In the UK, 67% of men and 61% of women are currently overweight or obese. This has been an upward trend in recent years which is expected to continue.” Recent government figures reflect this concern, showing approximately 69% of men and 59% of women were overweight or obese during 2023 to 2024. The Sleep Apnoea Trust estimates that up to 10 million people in the UK may have the condition, with many remaining undiagnosed.
A 2019 survey found that 15% of people in the UK put off booking a GP appointment more than eight times.38% said they avoided seeing a GP because they did not think their symptoms were serious enough.
In response, The Odd Company is encouraging people to take persistent tiredness seriously. The brand wants people to recognise that what may seem like ordinary fatigue could be a sign of something more dangerous. Andrew Seed, managing director of The Odd Company, said: “I think tiredness has become so normalised that it is often overlooked, with people forgetting that fatigue can be a sign of serious underlying issues. As part of our mission to improve sleep for Brits, we want people to tune into their tiredness and to recognise when your body might be waving a red flag. If something does not feel quite right, it is time to check in with a doctor.”
Dr Lee added: “Fatigue is overwhelming tiredness that does not get better no matter how much you rest and sleep. If you have symptoms of tiredness or fatigue that persist for a few weeks and are not improving, see your GP. There are numerous possible causes for persistent tiredness or fatigue – and OSA is on the list.”
