Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can be fatal. People with sleep apnea will have no problem falling asleep, but once asleep their throat muscles over- relax and they collapse on the airway. This sends a signal to the brain telling it that breathing has temporarily been cut off. Once they have stopped breathing the person wakes up and begins breathing normal again. How can snoring be so bad for you? This non breathing cycle can happen many times a night. An episode can occur up to 50 times a night and last from ten seconds or longer. People are usually unaware that anything is happening to them and they do not understand why they are so tired during the day. Obstructive sleep apnea, known as OSA, is the most common from of this sleep disorder. Some people that suffer from obstructive sleep apnea may often suffer from cental sleep apnea. If they develop cental sleep apnea they have a sleep disorder known as mixed sleep apnea. Most believe that obstructive sleep apnea affects 18 – 20% of adults in the United States. This disorder only becomes life threatening and very rarely fatal if left untreated. Obstructive sleep apnea may lead to heart disease, stroke, pulmonary hypertension and systemic hypertension. Are there any treatments? There are many cures for sleep apnea, surgical and noninvasive. One of the treatments is positive airway pressure.

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