Sleep Well Articles
If you have obstructive sleep apnea, your breathing stops or gets shallow due to a lack of airflow while you are sleeping. These pauses can occur 20 to 30 times or more an hour and leads to a significant drop in your oxygen levels. If not treated, sleep apnea can lead to type 2 diabetes, memory problems, weight gain, and an increased risk of auto accidents. Even more alarming is that sleep apnea is linked to a significantly increased risk of heart disease.
Sleep apnea is a common yet serious sleep disorder that affects more than 18 million Americans. It has been linked to increased risks of obesity and weight gain, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, asthma and depression, as well as car accidents.
In order to bring attention to one of the most serious yet under-diagnosed sleep disorders in the United States, Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla. has introduced House Resolution 384, titled “Recognizing the importance of increased awareness of sleep apnea.” Specifically, the bill says the House “…supports raising public awareness of sleep apnea and encourages all Americans to educate themselves and others about the consequences of sleep apnea and its potential treatments.” The resolution has been referred to the Energy and Commerce committee on which Henry Waxman (D-CA) sits, and will be debated in fall, 2009.
Type 2 diabetes is a major public health problem with significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs, not to mention quality of life issues. Mounting evidence suggests that a significant percentage of the 18 million Americans with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes also have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Do you wake up in the morning still feeling tired? An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a common sleep disorder, but 90-95% of cases remain undiagnosed