At least 18 million Americans are affected with sleep apnea. They suddenly stop breathing several times an hour over the course of a normal workday.

• Sleep apnea is the result of a collapsed airway. When we sleep, it is normal to lose some of the muscle tone that stiffens our airway. When the collapse airway becomes more severe, it blocks airflow. This is what apnea is. People with sleep apnea can stop breathing for an entire minute.
• Fifty percent of Americans snore. Five to twenty percent of the population have apnea.
• Being overweight does not cause apnea, but it can put you at greater risk. Weight is the biggest risk factor in getting apnea, age is second, anatomy is third, followed by male gender, and finally post-menopausal women. As more Americans become overweight, more instances of apnea arise.
• Apnea disrupts sleep, almost every 30-60 seconds. It can prevent someone from going into deeper stages of sleep. While awake, someone with sleep apnea who hasn’t slept well, may get headaches, have memory loss, have mental fogginess or depression. Sleep apnea is also associated with long-term cardiovascular disease.
• The leading treatment option is very effective. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is a pneumatic device that keeps the airway tube stiff by maintaining air pressure. It is effective for nearly 100% of people who use it. Other treatment options include oral devices and surgical procedures.

Source: “Sleep Apnea.”