A Dubai resident almost lost his job after falling asleep at work and performing poorly.
The 45-year-old had tried all sorts of approaches like no caffeine, no electronic use before bedtime and trying to maintain good sleep hygiene. However, he always woke up feeling tired, no matter how long he slept. His wife had also complained about his loud snoring.
“He had two or three episodes of gasping and suddenly waking up from sleep due to difficulty in breathing and that is when he sought medical help,” said Dr Raiza Hameed, specialist pulmonologist at Aster Clinic Bur Dubai. “On examination, we found he was obese and had hypertension for two years. A sleep study revealed that he had severe obstructive sleep apnea.”
The condition occurs when the muscles in the throat relax and blocks a person’s airways while sleeping. People with sleep apnea repeatedly stop breathing during their sleep, causing them to wake up multiple times during the night.
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“Frequently waking up, especially in conditions like sleep apnea, can severely compromise the quality of your sleep,” said Alexandra Zatarain, co-founder and VP of brand and marketing of Eight Sleep, a technology company that specialises in sleep optimisation products. “These disruptions prevent you from reaching the deep and REM sleep stages crucial for recovery and cognitive performance. When your sleep cycles are repeatedly interrupted, you wake up groggy, not refreshed, and less equipped to tackle the day. Over time, this can take a serious toll on your health and cognitive abilities.”
Highly prevalent
According to Dr Tayseer Al-Massry, consultant ENT surgeon at Burjeel Day Surgery Centre in Al Reem Island, Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is highly prevalent in the general population in Dubai. “A comprehensive study conducted across primary healthcare centres in Dubai found that nearly 21 per cent of respondents were at high risk of OSAS,” he said. “The highest prevalence was observed in the 51–60 age group for both genders.”
He said, the symptoms of OSAS include excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath, morning headaches, and cognitive impairment, including concentration.
Risks and treatment
Not getting adequate amount of sleep could have serious implications. “Sleep isn’t just downtime — it’s the critical period where your body recharges and primes itself for peak performance,” said Alexandra. “Neglecting this essential recovery means you’re not operating at full capacity, which impacts your mood, mental clarity, and overall efficiency. Addressing sleep disturbances head-on is crucial for maintaining optimal health and performance.
Dr Tayseer explained that sleep apnea, if left untreated, could even lead to death. “The condition could cause high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, dementia and an increased risk of early death,” he said.
Dr Raiza said that her patient was able to overcome his issues by using an automatic CPAP machine while sleeping. “His response was quick, and he felt benefits within a week of using CPAP,” she said. “His blood pressure became normal. He is now energetic, able to exercise and is reducing his body weight through diet modification and exercise. He felt amazing that so many of his symptoms were linked to obstructive sleep apnea and it all just went away after using CPAP.”