Facts about Sleep Apnea

1. 07

   Excess weight is a major risk factor for sleep apnea, as fatty tissue around the neck can narrow the airway and obstruct breathing during sleep.

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2. 06

   Obstructive sleep apnea affects approximately 34 percent of men and 17 percent of women aged 50 to 70 years old, making it significantly more prevalent in males across this age group.

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3. 05

   People with central sleep apnea show abnormal breathing patterns originating in the brain's respiratory control centers rather than airway obstruction, accounting for approximately 5 to 10 percent of all sleep apnea cases.

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4. 04

   Continuous positive airway pressure machines, the primary treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, were first developed by Colin Sullivan in 1981 at Sydney University.

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5. 03

   During sleep, people with obstructive sleep apnea experience repeated breathing pauses lasting 10 to 120 seconds, causing oxygen levels to drop dangerously low hundreds of times nightly.

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6. 02

   Approximately 22 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea, with roughly 80 percent of moderate to severe cases remaining undiagnosed.

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7. 01

   Untreated obstructive sleep apnea increases stroke risk by approximately 60 percent compared to people without the condition.

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