An “apnea” is a decrease in airflow of at least 80 percent for 10 seconds or more usually associated with a decrease in blood oxygen of 4% or more. A “hypopnea” is a reduction in airflow of at least 50% for 10 seconds or more causing a reduction in blood oxygen of 3% or greater. Both typically cause an arousal. [Continue reading]
Types of Sleep Apnea
There are three types of sleep apnea: 1) obstructive, 2) central, and 3) complex. The common element between them is the fact that sleep is repeatedly disrupted due to impaired breathing. The underlying cause — physical vs. neurological — is what distinguishes each type. [Continue reading]
Financial Impact of Sleep Apnea
A 2015 study commissioned by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and prepared by the global research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan calculated that the annual economic burden of undiagnosed sleep apnea among U.S. adults is $146.6 billion per year. [Continue reading]
Prevalence of Sleep Apnea
It is estimated that 1 in 5 adults worldwide have some level of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with 80 percent of the moderate and severe cases undiagnosed. [Continue reading]
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious health condition characterized by impaired breathing as the body relaxes during sleep. While there are different types of sleep apnea, the common element is the fact that sleep is repeatedly disrupted due to impaired breathing. [Continue reading]