I’m a sleep expert — don’t overlook this common symptom of a potentially dangerous disorder

Don’t sleep on this warning.

A sleep scientist has revealed the most commonly overlooked symptom of the dangerous sleep disorder that affects millions of Americans — urging them to pay closer attention to the quality of their nightly shuteye.

“Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an extremely common condition, impacting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Yet, millions suffer in silence because common symptoms of OSA may be overlooked or difficult to detect because they occur during sleep,” sleep scientist Dr. Joachim Behar told The Post.

OSA occurs when the throat muscles relax and block the airway repeatedly during sleep.

The doctor explained that “when a patient ignores the problem or is misdiagnosed, OSA becomes a risk factor for very serious conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and heart disease” — the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness.
• Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep.
• Waking during the night and gasping or choking.
• Awakening in the morning with a dry mouth or sore throat.
• Morning headaches.
• Trouble focusing during the day.
• Mood changes, such as depression or being easily upset.
• High blood pressure.
• Decreased interest in sex.

And the most commonly overlooked symptom of OSA? Snoring, which too many Americans brush off as a minor nuisance.

“The good news is that some simple lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, sleeping on your side, and avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills can help reduce symptoms of OSA,” Dr. Behar shared.

For more severe cases, doctors may prescribe a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which is considered the most effective treatment.

“Sleep is a growing public health concern because so many people across the globe do not receive the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night,” the expert warned.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports every adult should be tucking themselves in for at least seven hours a night, but it appears that many Americans are not getting that — and even if they are, it’s not consistent.

In fact, nearly half of American adults experience sleep deprivation, according to a study published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

“Countless elements of our modern lifestyles, including long working hours, overuse of electronic devices, poor diet, excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and increased levels of stress, are all not conducive to healthy sleep hygiene,” Dr. Behar explained.

A lack of consistent sleep can affect your many aspects of your physical health, cognitive abilities and mental health.

A new study even found that beauty sleep is a real thing — having a consistent and steady sleep schedule can help slow down the biological aging process.

Researchers discovered that people who had the biggest differences in their bedtimes and amount of sleep during the week compared to the weekend had the highest biological age.

They specifically discovered that people who were the most flexible and loose in their sleep schedules had a biological age that was nine months older than those who had a consistent schedule.

“Sleep is absolutely crucial for your overall well-being and should be taken as seriously as proper nutrition and exercise,” Dr. Behar said.