The following are surprising and well estabished facts about Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) :
- More than 18 million Americans suffer from OSA making it as prevalent as asthma and diabetes.
- Approximately 67% of adults over 40 snore.
- 9% of men and 4% of women have signs of OSA on testing.
- New estimates suggest that 17-20 % of adults have OSA (based on prevalence of obesity)
- Most OSA sufferers (90%) remain undiagnosed and untreated.
- Most chronic snorers exhibit some apnea tendencies.
- Approximately 50 % of OSA patients exhibit high blood pressure during wakefulness.
Symptoms of a Sleep Disorder or Obstuctive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Throughout this section you will find a few self-tests so you can know the signs to look for in determining if you are experiencing a sleep disorder that you... well, sleep through and miss. While your answers may not be a definitive diagnosis, it is a place to start.
How many of the following statements are true? (no hedging):
I have been told I snore- Excessive daytime fatigue or sleepiness (See our How Sleeply Are You Test)
- Choking or gasping for breath while sleeping
- I have been told that I stop breathing when I sleep throughout the night, and have no recollections of this
- I have difficulty falling or staying asleep
- I have memory problems
- I have a recent weight change
- I fall asleep at work, while driving or other inappropriate times
- I am always sleepy during the day, even if I sleep throughout the night, and I get 7 or more hours of sleep
- I have fragmented, non-refreshing sleep
- I have high blood pressure
- I have been told that I sleep restlessly. I am always tossing and turning while asleep
- I frequently awaken with headaches in the morning
- I tend to fall asleep during inappropriate situations
- Others and/or I have noticed a recent change in my personality
- I am overweight
- The diameter of my neck is a least 17 inches (16 for a woman)
- Additional symptoms may include: morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, decreased sex drive, irritability, gastro-esophageal reflux
If three or more of these apply to you, there may be cause for concern. Please let us know so that we can discuss this further.