Lowest price guarantee
Free shipping Australia wide on orders over $100
Bulk Billed Sleep Studies Available - Find Out More
Call Us
1300 76 29 39
Find a Clinic
75 Locations

How Alcohol Masks the Early Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea

July 10, 2025

We all know the feeling: a few drinks at the end of a long week, a deep night’s sleep, and a lazy Saturday morning. But what if that “deep” sleep isn’t as restful as it seems? For many Australians, alcohol can be a regular part of social life—but it may also be quietly disguising a serious health issue: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Sleep apnea is a condition where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during the night.1 It often goes unnoticed because the symptoms can be subtle or blamed on other things—like that late-night glass of wine. Common warning signs? Loud snoring, daytime fatigue, waking up gasping or choking, and morning headaches.1 But when alcohol is involved, these red flags can be harder to spot.

That’s because alcohol is a sedative. It relaxes the muscles in your throat, making it more likely that your airway will collapse while you sleep.2 This can trigger or worsen sleep apnea—but paradoxically, it can also mask it.2 Alcohol can help you fall asleep quickly and sleep deeply at first, but later in the night, it disrupts your sleep. You might wake up several times without realising it—just not fully enough to remember.3

Another way alcohol hides sleep apnea is by clouding how we interpret symptoms. Waking up groggy after a night out? It’s easy to blame the booze. Struggling with energy the next day? Must be the hangover. Over time, this can cause people to overlook the fact that their poor sleep and tiredness might be chronic—not just a once-off from a big Friday night.

Unfortunately, the longer sleep apnea goes undiagnosed, the greater the risk to your health. Untreated OSA is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.4

So how can you tell the difference between a rough night and something more serious? Start by noticing the patterns. Are you always tired—even when you haven’t had anything to drink? Do your partner or housemates mention loud snoring or pauses in your breathing? Have you noticed you wake up feeling unrefreshed, with a dry mouth or headache?

If any of this rings a bell, don’t brush it off. Speak to your doctor about the possibility of sleep apnea. They might recommend an at-home sleep study—simple, non-invasive, and a lot easier than you might think.

Alcohol can cloud more than just your judgment—it can also cloud the symptoms of a potentially dangerous sleep disorder. The good news? OSA has highly effective treatment in the form of CPAP therapy – a bedside device which gently blows air through a mask to keep your airway open, eliminating symptoms.5 So if you’ve been feeling off, listen to your body and speak to your doctor, or reach out to us at Sove CPAP Clinic. The sooner you act, the better your sleep—and your health—will be.

How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help

Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has grown to become a leading provider of respiratory and sleep services and products in Australia, with over 60 clinics nationwide. Our comprehensive clinical team includes Respiratory & Sleep Specialists, Sleep Technologists, and CPAP Consultants, ensuring that you receive comprehensive and personalised care. All medical procedures, including sleep studies and lung function testing, are bulk billed to all Australians, with minimal wait time.

If you would like to speak to a Respiratory & Sleep Physician, book a bulk-billed sleep study, or seek advice for your sleep apnea, you can reach us at 1300 76 29 39 or info@thecpapclinic.com.au.

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment. When considering whether a sleep study or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&Cs apply.

References

  1. Healthdirect Australia. “Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.” www.healthdirect.gov.au, 14 Sept. 2022, www.healthdirect.gov.au/obstructive-sleep-apnoea.
  2. “The Link between Alcohol and Sleep Apnea.” Sleep Foundation, 16 Nov. 2022, www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-apnea/alcohol-and-sleep-apnea.
  3. Bryan, Lucy, and Abhinav Singh. “Alcohol and Sleep.” Sleep Foundation, 4 Sept. 2020, www.sleepfoundation.org/nutrition/alcohol-and-sleep.
  4. Surani, Salim R. “Diabetes, Sleep Apnea, Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease: Why Not Address Them Together?” World Journal of Diabetes, vol. 5, no. 3, 2014, p. 381, https://doi.org/10.4239/wjd.v5.i3.381.
  5. McCrimmon, Katie Kerwin, and UCHealth. “Overnight Cure for Poor Sleep: The Benefits of CPAP.” UCHealth Today, 2 June 2020, www.uchealth.org/today/benefits-of-cpap-for-sleep-apnea/.