Late nights, drinking alcohol, and sleeping in on weekends may make sleep apnea worse. A study from Flinders University found that people were 18% more likely to have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on weekends, especially Saturdays. Sleeping in for 45 minutes or more raised the risk by 47%. Men, younger adults, and those who skip OSA treatment on weekends were most affected.

Researchers say alcohol, lighter sleep, and irregular schedules can worsen OSA symptoms. The study included over 70,000 people worldwide and showed that this “weekend effect” could lead to missed diagnoses if doctors rely on just one night of sleep testing.

OSA affects about one billion people globally and raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, depression, and early death if untreated. Experts recommend keeping a regular sleep schedule, using OSA treatments every night, and aiming for 7–9 hours of sleep to help avoid weekend symptom spikes.