Sleep Apnea: An Overview

Sleep apnea is a common and potentially dangerous sleep disorder characterized by one or more pauses in breathing or instances of shallow breathing during sleep. The episodes of apnea can last from a few seconds to several minutes. It is estimated that 1 in every 15 Americans has sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension, arrhythmias, diabetes, and causing accidents due to falling asleep while driving. A 2012 study showed that the hypoxia caused by sleep apnea promoted angiogenesis which increased tumor and vascular growth. This led to a 4.8 time increase in the incidence of cancer mortality. Sleep apnea can often go undiagnosed as patients are unaware of it while they sleep. It is estimated that the average untreated sleep apnea patient's annual health-care costs 1336 dollars more than a person without sleep apnea which can cause 3.4 billion dollars a year in additional medical costs. It is a chronic condition which requires management throughout life. Lifestyle modifications, oral appliances, surgery, and breathing devices can treat sleep apnea in most patients. The introduction of the continuous positive airway pressure has greatly improved the management of sleep apnea.