Sleep Apnea Facts and Statistics

Here we will list various sleep apnea facts, figures and sleep apnea statistics to allow you to realise the extent of the disorder throughout the world.

The factors contributing to vulnerability of Obstructive Sleep Apnea include; loud snorers, overweight by twenty to thirty pounds, high blood pressure, congested airway or a thick, short neck.  Family history of sleep apnea may also indicate that the condition is hereditary.  Alarmingly, 20% of the US male population suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, which works out at about 18 million Americans, many of which remain untreated, or are unaware that they actually have the disorder.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea can lead to life threatening consequences, including heart congestion, strokes, unbalanced heart rhythms, cardiovascular diseases and increased risk of being involved in a car accident.  View more effects of obstructive sleep apnea.

Research suggests that of those with heart failure, one third will suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.  Those treated with CPAP experienced a significant increase in their heart condition and assisted in reducing their blood pressure back down to a more natural and healthy level.

Every year, almost 4% of men and 2% of women, over 35 years of age are identified as obstructive sleep apnea sufferers.  A shocking 90% of all cases are thought to go unrecognised, due to the fact that the symptoms are not easily picked up on by the sufferer themselves, and most do not know that there is treatment available to remedy the sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea symptoms include the following; frequent urinating, waking with a dry throat, personality changes, concentration lapses, memory and learning issues, morning headaches, tetchiness, loud snoring and gasping / choking during sleep (commonly witnessed by a partner).

Patients with atrial fibrillation run double the risk of having obstructive sleep apnea, so these patients in particular should be tested for it as soon as possible to either eliminate the possibility, or to acquire treatment for it immediately.

Obstructive sleep apnea sufferers can experience 60 apneas an hour, or a total of 400 per night.  20 apneas or more per hour greatly increases the chance of life threatening consequences.

1 in 5 adults are thought to have some degree of obstructive sleep apnea, and 1 in 15 adults have it moderately or worse.

Studies indicate that partners of obstructive sleep apnea sufferers can lose up to one hour of sleep per night, as a result of their partner’s loud snoring and apneas.

That concludes our facts on sleep apnea.