It’s estimated that nearly 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, with 80% of moderate-severe cases remaining undiagnosed. The most common form of sleep apnea is known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is characterized by a blockage or collapse of the airway, causing cessation of breathing for a short period of time during sleep. These cessations of breathing or “apneas” range from a few seconds up to several minutes and can occur up to 30 times per hour.

Common symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring, frequent breaks in breathing, daytime sleepiness or fatigue, morning headaches, insomnia, depression, frequent nighttime urination, acid reflux, and uncharacteristic irritability.

OSA negatively impacts both the quantity and quality of sleep that you get, putting you at a higher risk for experiencing negative events like a car crash or developing a potentially life-threatening condition, such as diabetes or heart disease. These risks make it very important that those with sleep apnea get treated for their condition.

Our hearts are our lifelines—quite literally. The heart ensures that our bodies receive oxygen and other nutrients that we need in order to survive. Without the heart, our vital organs—including the brain—don’t receive blood, which will cause them to stop working.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, followed by cancer and COVID-19. When talking about heart disease, it’s important to understand that heart disease simply refers to several different heart conditions. The most common type of heart disease is CAD (coronary artery disease). CAD most typically leads to heart attacks.