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The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has called sleep apnea “a hidden health crisis costing America billions.” An estimated 30 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, but remain undiagnosed. Beyond daytime tiredness, if left untreated, sleep apnea can have serious effects on health and well-being.
The most prevalent health conditions that can arise from untreated sleep apnea are high blood pressure, cardiac disease, and diabetes. Other conditions include stroke, asthma and breathing disorders, insomnia, impotence, weight gain, depression and anxiety, and possible complications in pregnancy.
With this long list, it’s easy to see how sleep apnea could cost billions in health care dollars. Low productivity at work and potential accidents also contribute significantly to the human and financial cost.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious health condition in which one actually stops breathing during sleep. These episodes of not breathing can last from a few seconds to over a minute. And the number of times breathing stops can range from a few times to more than 50 times in one night.
Sleep apnea is classified as either obstructive or central. Obstructive sleep apnea is when the airway becomes obstructed during sleep. When the muscles of the tongue, palate, and throat relax during sleep, they can cause the airway to collapse. The brain then senses the lack of oxygen and sends out a signal to start breathing again. Obstructive sleep apnea is more common in those who are overweight.
With central sleep apnea, there is a problem in the central nervous system. This is a less common but more serious health problem.
