What does unexplained weight gain feel like with obstructive sleep apnoea?

The weight change itself may feel like tighter clothing or increased heaviness, but obstructive sleep apnoea is more often experienced through poor-quality sleep. A bed partner may notice loud snoring, pauses in breathing, gasping or choking. You may wake with a dry mouth or headache and feel sleepy, irritable or unable to concentrate during the day. Weight and sleep can influence each other, but weight change alone does not identify sleep apnoea.

Ask someone who sleeps nearby whether they have noticed snoring or breathing pauses, and keep a short record of sleep, naps, morning symptoms and medicines. Arrange a primary-care review if you have persistent daytime sleepiness, witnessed breathing pauses or weight change with snoring. A clinician may assess your airway and health and arrange a sleep assessment. Do not drive or operate machinery when you are struggling to stay awake.

Seek urgent help for severe breathlessness, chest pain, fainting, blue lips or confusion. Arrange prompt assessment if you repeatedly wake choking, fall asleep while driving, or have overwhelming daytime sleepiness. A routine appointment is sensible for ongoing snoring, morning headaches, unrefreshing sleep or unexplained weight change.

Could my snoring and daytime fatigue indicate sleep apnoea? Would a sleep assessment help? How can I reduce driving risk while sleepy? Could medicines, nasal blockage or another condition be affecting my sleep?