Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which people are not experiencing breathing while sleeping. Over 20 million Americans, mainly overweight men suffer from sleep apnea. Despite these numbers, sleep apnea is usually not treated directly because its symptoms are thought to depression, stress or simply snoring loudly. This disease often occurs in families, so there may be genetic factors. People with sleep apnea will stop breathing at least 10 seconds at a time; these short term respiratory arrests can occur up to 400 times per night.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing is interrupted repeatedly and briefly during sleep. "Apnea" in sleep apnea refers to apnea lasting at least 10 seconds. Despite trying to breathe, obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles behind the throat can not keep the airway open. Another form of sleep apnea is central sleep apnea, and the brain can not properly control breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is much more common than central sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is the state where you pause or even stop while you sleep. Its most common form, obstructive sleep apnea, features laryngeal muscles that collapse and cause snoring while sleeping. This is very common as approximately 22 million Americans are presumed to be suffering from sleep apnea. It tends to run at home, it affects men over women, and is more common with overweight than shape. About 80% of patients with sleep apnea have not been diagnosed and this can be fatal. Untreated sleep apnea deprives the brain and oxygen of the heart, causing stroke and heart disease.