Many people think of sleep apnea as a nighttime problem that causes loud snoring and poor sleep. But some people with sleep apnea also notice shortness of breath during the day, when they’re awake. This sensation can be worrying and confusing.

In this article, we’ll explain how sleep apnea can affect daytime breathing. You’ll also learn which other conditions may cause shortness of breath, whether treatment can help, and when breathing trouble is an emergency.

Can Sleep Apnea Cause Shortness of Breath During the Day?

Breathing pauses mainly happen at night. But sleep apnea can contribute to shortness of breath during the daytime too.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common type, causes repeated upper airway collapse during sleep. This leads to airway blockages, drops in blood oxygen levels and disrupted breathing patterns.

Another type of sleep apnea called central sleep apnea (CSA) happens when signals from the brain that control breathing don’t work properly. This leads to repeated pauses during sleep.

Over time, these nighttime breathing problems can affect how the lungs, heart, and breathing muscles feel and function during the day. It may lead to daytime symptoms such as:

• Feeling like your lungs aren’t getting enough airflow (sometimes referred to as dyspnea)
• Chest tightness or pain
• Trouble taking deep breaths
• Rapid breathing
• Loud breathing or wheezing
• Having to force yourself to inhale deeply

Shortness of breath during the day can look and feel different for everyone, especially depending on what’s causing it.

Can Treating Sleep Apnea Improve Shortness of Breath?

For some people, treating sleep apnea can improve breathing comfort during the day. Targeting sleep apnea directly is often the first step toward easing breathing symptoms that linger into the day.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a common treatment option for sleep apnea, keeps the airway open during sleep and prevents apnea events. Studies show that CPAP treatment can improve oxygen levels, reduce inflammation, and decrease the risk of heart complications, all of which may ease shortness of breath.

If CPAP isn’t an option for you, treatment alternatives such as oral appliances, weight loss, positional therapy, or surgery may help. They can often reduce sleep apnea severity and potentially improve symptoms like daytime shortness of breath, but there is much less available research to show that it does.

Your healthcare provider can advise you on whether sleep apnea treatment is likely to help ease your shortness of breath. If it’s due to underlying causes, such as lung disease or heart problems, you’ll need to address those to reduce your symptoms.

Don’t Dismiss Daytime Breathing Difficulties

Sleep apnea's effects don’t always go away when the sun comes up. Through low oxygen levels, airway inflammation, and increased breathing effort during the night, sleep apnea can cause breathing discomfort that follows you through the day.

Achieving restful sleep through effective sleep apnea treatment may be one of the most important steps toward easing those daytime symptoms. That said, shortness of breath is rarely due to one single cause. Working closely with your doctor to rule out heart, lung, or other contributing conditions is just as important as treating the apnea itself.

If you have sleep apnea and notice ongoing breathing difficulties during the day, don’t brush it off. Follow up with your healthcare provider, and seek emergency care right away if you notice any breathing trouble that feels sudden, severe, or different from usual.

Join the Conversation

On MySleepApneaTeam, people share their experiences with sleep apnea, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

How do you manage daytime breathing symptoms related to your sleep apnea? Let others know in the comments below.