Amaal Mallik shocked many fans when he revealed that he has been living with sleep apnea. The music composer opened up about this during a candid moment on Bigg Boss 19 in August 2025. He spoke about his health during a conversation with fellow contestant Gaurav Khanna, and viewers immediately noticed the seriousness of the condition.
Amaal is said to be using a CPAP machine inside the house. This device helps people breathe better by keeping the airway open at night. He shared that his breathing stops for almost 15 to 20 seconds at a time while he sleeps, which sometimes causes him to choke. He also mentioned that snoring has become a major issue for him and for the people around him.
Many people would want to know what this disorder actually means and how serious it can get. So read on to know!
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Pulmonologist Dr Kalpesh Panchal shared an explainer video on Instagram. He broke down the condition in very simple terms. According to him, this disorder happens when your breathing pauses or gets blocked while you are asleep. Because of this, the body does not receive enough oxygen, which can create many health problems over time.
Dr Panchal explained that the condition mainly appears in two forms. The first type occurs when the airway gets blocked. This usually happens due to extra fat around the neck, enlarged tonsils, or an abnormal facial structure. The second type occurs when the brain fails to send proper signals to maintain the breathing rhythm during sleep. This type takes longer to diagnose because the issue starts in the brain, not the airway.
He also said that the disorder is more common in people who are overweight or follow an unhealthy lifestyle. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid issues, high cholesterol or a history of major heart surgery are also at higher risk.
How Serious Can It Be?
The doctor warned that ignoring the condition can lead to serious long-term complications. These include high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, depression and even increased chances of road accidents due to extreme sleepiness.
The symptoms are also easy to miss. Loud snoring, feeling sleepy the entire day, waking up many times at night, poor focus, low memory and mood issues like depression and anxiety are some common red flags.
