You wake up in the middle of the night with a tight feeling in your chest. Your mind immediately jumps to the worst-case scenario—is this a heart attack? While chest pain should never be ignored, there might be another culprit you haven’t considered: sleep apnea.
Many patients come to our sleep center describing chest discomfort that initially sent them down a path of cardiac evaluations, only to discover the true cause was related to their breathing during sleep. If you’ve been experiencing chest pain and aren’t finding answers, this connection might be worth exploring.
What Exactly Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common but serious sleep disorder where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts throughout the night. The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much, allowing soft tissue to collapse and block your airway.
When this happens, your oxygen levels drop, and your brain sends an emergency signal to wake you up just enough to restart breathing. This can happen 5-30 times (or more) per hour, all night long!
You might have sleep apnea if you experience:
- Loud snoring (though not everyone who snores has sleep apnea)
- Gasping or choking during sleep
- Morning headaches
- Daytime drowsiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking
What many people don’t realize is that untreated sleep apnea can also cause chest pain, a symptom that can be particularly concerning and confusing.
How Sleep Apnea Leads to Chest Pain
Yes, sleep apnea can absolutely cause chest pain, and it happens through several different mechanisms.
When you stop breathing repeatedly during the night, your blood oxygen levels drop. Your heart works harder to compensate, increasing strain on your cardiovascular system. This extra work can cause pain that feels similar to angina (heart-related chest pain).
Your chest muscles also work overtime during apnea episodes. As your body struggles to breathe against a blocked airway, these muscles can become strained and sore, similar to how your legs might feel after an intense workout.
Sleep apnea also triggers your body’s stress response. When oxygen levels drop, your body releases stress hormones like adrenaline, which can cause chest tightness and discomfort.
In more severe obstructive sleep apnea cases, untreated sleep apnea can lead to actual heart problems over time, including high blood pressure and an increased risk of coronary artery disease, both of which can cause chest pain.
Sleep Apnea Chest Pain vs. Heart-Related Chest Pain
While only a medical professional can determine the exact cause of your chest pain, there are some patterns that might suggest sleep apnea as the culprit:
Sleep apnea-related chest pain often:
- Occurs at night or upon waking
- Improves throughout the day
- Isn’t typically triggered by physical exertion
- May be accompanied by other sleep apnea symptoms
- Often feels like pressure or tightness rather than sharp pain
In contrast, heart-related chest pain more frequently:
- Can be triggered by physical activity or stress
- May radiate to the arm, jaw, or back
- Might be accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea, or sweating
- Often doesn’t improve with better, more restful sleep
Important: If you’re experiencing new or concerning chest pain, always seek immediate medical attention. This article isn’t meant to replace a proper medical evaluation.
Diagnosing and Treating Sleep Apnea
If you suspect sleep apnea might be contributing to your chest pain, here’s what you can expect:
A sleep study (polysomnogram) is the gold standard for diagnosis. This might take place in a sleep center like ours or, in some cases, can be done at home with portable equipment. The study tracks your breathing patterns, oxygen levels, heart rate, and more while you sleep.
If sleep apnea is diagnosed, the most common sleep apnea treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. A CPAP machine delivers gentle air pressure through a mask to keep your airway open during sleep. While it takes some getting used to, most sleep apnea patients report significant improvement in symptoms—including chest pain—once they adapt to treatment.
Other treatment options include:
- Oral appliances that reposition your jaw
- Lifestyle changes like weight loss or changing sleep position
- In some cases, surgical options to remove airway obstructions
When to Talk to Your Doctor
If you’re experiencing chest pain along with common sleep apnea symptoms, it’s time to have a conversation with your healthcare provider.
Consider reaching out if you:
- Wake up with chest discomfort
- Feel excessively tired despite a full night’s sleep
- Have been told you snore loudly or stop breathing during sleep
- Have undergone cardiac evaluations with no clear findings
When you speak with your doctor, be prepared to describe:
- When your chest pain occurs
- How it feels (sharp, dull, pressure, etc.)
- What makes it better or worse
- Any other symptoms you’ve noticed
- How well you’re sleeping
Your Path to Better Sleep and Less Pain
The good news is that when sleep apnea is properly treated, related chest pain often improves significantly or resolves completely. Beyond pain relief, treating sleep apnea can lead to better sleep quality, improved daytime energy, and reduced risk of serious health complications like heart disease and stroke.
If you’re experiencing chest pain that could be related to severe sleep apnea, don’t wait to seek help. Early intervention can prevent more serious health issues down the road and help you get back to enjoying restful, pain-free sleep.
Ready to explore whether sleep apnea might be behind your chest discomfort? Our sleep specialist is here to help you find answers and create a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Sleep well, breathe well, and live well—you deserve nothing less.
