Sleep apnea is a much more serious issue than the vast majority of people realize. It is a subject that many affected by the condition believe should be discussed more, so that people can be better diagnosed, earlier than many currently are. Sleep apnea is characterized by numerous instances throughout the night where the tongue or throat relaxes too much and blocks air flow, not allowing the patient to breathe. Read on for some facts you may not know about the illness.
- It’s more common than you think — in fact, sleep apnea affects about 18 million Americans. In addition, 2 to 4% of Americans are undiagnosed, which is about a one in 50 chance.
- People who stay untreated for this condition are three times more likely to suffer from heart disease, and four times more likely to have a stroke.
- Those suffering from sleep apnea suffer from an average of 60 apneas each hour throughout their sleep.
- About 38,000 deaths annually occur due to a cardiovascular issue linked back to sleep apnea.
- Men are twice as likely to develop this condition.
- Asthma patients face a 40% higher risk than those without, according to a study.
- More than 80% of those using a CPAP machine are not using it regularly enough to treat the condition.
- Half of those prescribed CPAP machines don’t use them for more than one to three weeks, studies have shown.
- Using CPAP 70% of the time throughout the month, for four hours a night, will help you treat sleep apnea and stay insured.
- Treatment preferences are split evenly — 45% of patients prefer nasal or CPAP masks, 50% prefer nasal pillows, and 5% didn’t have a preference.
- If you or a loved one are over the age of 60 and you require CPAP, you are five times more likely to need heated humidification.
What do you think of these facts? Were they helpful? Did you know any of them before?
