Shaquille O'Neal went years knowing he had obstructive sleep apnea and did nothing about it. Now he is speaking publicly about the GLP-1 drug Zepbound and how it has helped change that.
According to Healthline, O'Neal was diagnosed with moderate obstructive sleep apnea in 2011 after participating in an overnight sleep study conducted at Harvard Medical School. After the diagnosis, doctors told him what steps to take to manage the condition. He did not follow through. "[The doctors] told me the what and whatnots to do and talked about certain things, but I ignored it…because I thought I was superhuman," he told Healthline.
He tried using a CPAP machine after the diagnosis. A CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device, involves wearing a mask during sleep to keep the airway open. O'Neal said he did not use it effectively and eventually stopped. His snoring continued to get worse. "My snoring got so bad that my friends started making…funny videos out of them. And then I was always tired during the daytime," he said.
Those experiences pushed him to take his health more seriously. He consulted his doctor, who suggested Zepbound as a treatment option. Zepbound is currently the only prescription medication FDA approved for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults living with obesity. Since starting the medication, O'Neal said he has experienced fewer breathing interruptions during sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea is often an obesity-related condition. Karl Nadolsky, DO, director of the diabetes and endocrinology clinic at The Gym and an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Michigan State University, explained the mechanics of the disease. "This causes you to briefly stop breathing multiple times per hour, leading to drops in oxygen, disrupted sleep, loud snoring, and daytime tiredness," Nadolsky told Healthline. "Over time, untreated OSA can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and other serious health problems."
Excess weight, particularly around the neck, can narrow the airway and increase the risk of collapse during sleep. Zepbound works in part by addressing that underlying obesity, which plays a significant role in OSA severity.
O'Neal said he now wants to use his public platform to raise awareness about treatment options, particularly for men who may be putting off getting help. "The problem with men? We think we're superhuman, especially athletic men. Because, you know, when you play, you never get sick, and you never catch the flu, you just think you're [invincible]," he said.
