What is Sleep Apnea?(Information courtesy of WebMD website)

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person's breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times. This means the brain -- and the rest of the body -- may not get enough oxygen.

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There are two types of sleep apnea:

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• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): The more common of the two forms of apnea, it is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep.

• Central sleep apnea: Unlike OSA, the airway is not blocked, but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe, due to instability in the respiratory control center.

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Am I at Risk for Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, even children. Risk factors for sleep apnea include:

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• Being male

• Being overweight

• Being over age 40

• Having a large neck size (17 inches or greater in men and 16 inches or greater in women)

• Having large tonsils, a large tongue, or a small jaw bone

• Having a family history of sleep apnea

• Gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD

• Nasal obstruction due to a deviated septum, allergies, or sinus problems

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What Are the Effects of Sleep Apnea?

If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a growing number of health problems, including:

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• High blood pressure

• Stroke

• Heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks

• Diabetes

• Depression

• Worsening of ADHD

• Headaches

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In addition, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for poor performance in everyday activities, such as at work and school, motor vehicle crashes, and academic underachievement in children and adolescents.

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