Sleep apnea & its symptoms

Apnea means deprivation of breath: At several moments during sleep, the person misses one or more breaths. An episode may last from a few seconds to a minute or more. There can be hundreds such episodes a night.

Sleep apnea is very common. It affects millions of people in America. Estimates range from more than twelve million people (National Institutes of Health) to about 20 million people.

A vast majority of sufferers are undiagnosed. People who suffer from sleep apnea are usually not aware of having had difficulty breathing. They are indirectly aware of the sleep disturbance as they experience feeling tired and sleepy during the day.

This fatigue may result in accidents at work or on the road. Other effects of sleep apnea can cause:
- cardiovascular disease (incl. high blood pressure),
- memory problems,
- weight gain,
- impotency,
- headaches.

Especially at risk are:
- males,
- overweight people,
- people over 40.

See also:

- Sleep disorders & insomnia

- Stress management