Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing stops for brief
periods of time while a person is sleeping. These episodes of
interrupted breathing last anywhere from 10-30 seconds at a
time, and may occur up to 20-30 times per hour. Over the course
of a single night’s sleep, this can mean up to 400 episodes of
interrupted breathing. Every time you stop breathing, you
interfere with the normal patterns of deep sleep. You may not
even realize it, but you are awakening regularly in order to
resume breathing. The quality of sleep that you get is greatly
impaired. The next day, your level of alertness and your ability
to pay attention may be seriously affected. Some of the risks
associated with sleep apnea include: - Increased risk of
accidents (especially car accidents) due to inattention and
inability to stay alert during normal waking hours - Higher risk
of heart disease - Increased risk of stroke - Increased risk of
lung disease - Increased risk of hypertension - Increased risk
of diabetes There are several dif