People across the UK could be showing red flags of a serious medical condition - but may never see the signs themselves. Sleep apnoea tends to set off alarm bells when the person is in a state of deep sleep.

Dr Xand van Tulleken, the resident doctor regularly appearing on BBC's Morning Live, claimed that millions could have sleep apnoea and not even know it. However, there are ways to get the evidence you need to get your doctor to look into the condition.

Many people are thought to have undiagnosed sleep apnea, which is a serious issue where breathing keeps stopping and starting while they sleep. In the UK, around eight million people might have sleep apnoea, but only a small number have actually been diagnosed.

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Sleep apnoea is a condition which leaves the airways blocked during a state of deep sleep. People end up being unable to breathe properly, resulting in "snorts and snuffles" that go beyond just being typical snoring.

It needs to be addressed because, without treatment, sleep apnoea can lead to other problems, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and "a higher chance of having a stroke".

Presenter Rav Whilding pointed out that while listening to an example of sleep apnoea on the BBC show, there were some "quite obvious" signs that something was wrong. He said that people without a partner to take notice may "never know" they're displaying red flags.

Dr Xand said: "There are many causes of fatigue, exhaustion and excessive tiredness, you have to talk to your GP. If you want to go armed with a bit more knowledge, we now almost all carry [smart devices] that can record our snoring.

"A lot of people have got smartwatches that can even measure the oxygen in their blood. Important to say, these are not diagnostic devices and won't tell you exactly what's wrong.

"You can get apps that will activate when you're snoring. Record that and listen for gaps and start to suggest [to your doctor] a pattern that may be sleep apnoea."

In a lot of cases, sleep apnoea can sometimes be treated by making lifestyle changes such as losing weight, giving up smoking and reducing how much alcohol you drink.

People might need to use a device called a CPAP machine to gently pump air into a mask worn in bed. It can help improve your breathing while you sleep by preventing your airways from narrowing.

The NHS will usually provide one of these to patients diagnosed with sleep apnoea free of charge. Surgery can also be a potential option, depending on the situation.