Sleep Apnea

The more common of the two forms of apnea, it is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep.

Am I at Risk for Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, even children. However, risk factors for sleep apnea include:

* Male gender

* Being overweight

* Being over the age of forty

* Having a large neck size (17 inches or greater in men and 16 inches or greater in women)

* Having larger tonsils

* Having a family history of sleep apnea

What Are the Effects of Sleep Apnea?

If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a growing number of health problems including:

* Hypertension

* Stroke

* Heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks

In addition, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for poor performance in everyday activities, such as at work and school, motor vehicle crashes, as well as academic underachievement in children and adolescents.