About Sleep Apnea

Estimates are that between 12 and 20 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea to some degree.

There are three types of sleep apnea - obstructive, central and mixed. Of the three, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is by far the most widespread. OSA can be mild, moderate or severe. And because it is a progressive condition, the severity can worsen over time.

Sleep apnea is not age specific - it can affect anyone from childhood through to old age. Men and women can both develop sleep apnea, but it more common to men - particularly middle-age men who are also overweight.

According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, roughly 38,000 cardiovascular deaths annually are in some way related to sleep apnea. The links include high blood pressure, hypertension and stroke.

Approximately 6 million Americans suffer from moderate to severe sleep apnea - sometimes requiring a late-night emergency room visit. Unfortunately, many people do not realize that they suffer from sleep apnea unless someone else brings it to their attention.

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