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SuperCare Health Debunks Common Myths about Sleep Apnea
Posted: 07/26/2024
Updated: 07/26/2024
By: SuperCare Health
Est Read Time: 3 min

At least 30 million adults in the United States have sleep apnea, but only 6 million have received a diagnosis. If left untreated, sleep apnea can affect the entire body, leading to reduced oxygen levels, poor sleep quality, and impaired cognitive function, as well as increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney dysfunction, diabetes, and metabolic disorders. So why are so many patients given incorrect information about this prevalent condition? SuperCare Health is here to  help you separate fact from fiction. Join our leading clinicians as we debunk the most common sleep apnea myths. 

Myth: There is only one type of sleep apnea.

Fact: There are two types of sleep apnea. 

  1. Obstructive sleep apnea, often called OSA. The upper airway becomes blocked during sleep, interfering with breathing. 
  2. Central sleep apnea. The muscles and nerves aren’t activated enough for breathing while asleep, causing pauses in airflow. 

Myth: Only extremely overweight people can be diagnosed with sleep apnea. 

Fact: While a higher weight is linked to a greater possibility of developing sleep apnea, people at a healthy weight can also have the condition. Other factors besides weight can put you at higher risk, including hypothyroidism, family history, menopause, heart and kidney conditions, excess alcohol consumption, smoking, and the structure of your face and neck.

Myth: Sleep apnea is more common in younger adults.

Fact: In a recent study, The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reported that 56% of people age 65 and older had a higher risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea. 

Myth: Sleep apnea symptoms are usually extreme with no spectrum of severity.

Fact: Patients can be diagnosed with mild, moderate, or severe sleep apnea. Though less common, some may be diagnosed with severe sleep apnea yet experience few symptoms, while others may have mild sleep apnea with several symptoms. 

Myth: If you snore, you definitely have sleep apnea. Those who don’t snore do not have the condition.

Fact: For those with sleep apnea, breathing during sleep is interrupted many times throughout the night, often resulting in nighttime snoring. However, people who snore but feel refreshed the next day may just experience simple snoring and not sleep apnea. Conversely, not everyone with sleep apnea snores. In fact, up to 20% of diagnosed patients do not experience snoring.


From quick and easy CPAP and BiPAP resupply to telehealth appointments with our award winning clinicians, SuperCare Health will stay by your side on your healthcare journey. To learn more about our comprehensive respiratory care programs, visit our patients page online. Read about our newest division, SuperCare Diabetes, by clicking here. To get in touch with a SuperCare Health customer service representative, call (800) 206-4880.

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