Is Sleep Apnea an Epidemic?

The National Sleep Foundation estimates that 18 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – and that millions of men and women throughout the country have signs and symptoms of the sleep disorder but have not been diagnosed. Many physicians and researchers also believe that the number of sufferers may only increase in future years. At the same time, sleep apnea headlines have plastered our newspapers: one in three professional football players have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes train wreck. Sleep apnea tied to bone loss. Why is sleep apnea becoming more prevalent? Is sleep apnea becoming an epidemic in the United States? And why should we care? Why is there More Sleep Apnea than Ever? It may seem like everyone has sleep apnea these days when just a few decades ago, it was rarely mentioned. There are several reasons that sleep apnea seems to be skyrocketing:

• Growing awareness. Very simply, physicians and the general public are more aware of the issue of sleep apnea. Slowly, more and more people are recognizing symptoms, requesting help, and getting a diagnosis. At the same time, more doctors are realizing that sleep apnea can be the cause of a number of other health problems and should not be ignored.

• An aging population. As the Baby Boomers become older, they become more susceptible to sleep apnea: they gain weight and their airways may become weaker and narrower. The result is that a significant number of new seniors are beginning to show signs of the sleep disorder.

• Obesity issues. More than one-third of Americans are now considered obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With a rise in obesity comes a rise in sleep apnea cases.

• Lifestyle trends. More Americans are spending longer hours in the office and less time on their feet. This can lead to weight gain and poor health, both of which are associated with sleep apnea. Drinking and smoking also contribute to the issue.

An Epidemic Worth Fighting

With all of the other troubles in the world, why should sleep apnea be such an important health issue to Americans? Many researchers and doctors believe that sleep apnea could be a contributing factor to a growing list of extremely dangerous and deadly diseases and health conditions, including:

• High blood pressure/hypertension.
• Heart disease and heart attack.
• Depression and anxiety.
• Bone loss and osteoporosis.
• Impotence and sexual dysfunction.
• Chronic headaches.
• Insomnia.
• Diabetes.
• Stroke.

In addition, sleep apnea has been blamed for a number of traffic accidents and on-the-job accidents, as OSA sufferers live with daytime sleepiness and fatigue, often paired with memory issues and concentration issues.

Ending the Sleep Apnea Epidemic

Another reason that sleep apnea has reached epidemic proportions is the lack of effective, convenient, and economic treatments. Although continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) therapy offer relief to many patients, compliance rates and satisfaction rates are alarmingly low. At Surgical Sleep Solutions, we offer a sleep apnea surgical procedure with a 95 to 99 percent effectiveness rate, recommended by the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.To learn more about our procedure, or to schedule a consultation at one of our surgery centers, please call us today: (855) 560-7378.