Apnea can progress in severity and become life threatening if not detected and properly treated. Over 20 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. Although it seems to be more common in middle-aged men and affects 40 percent of all people over 60 years of age, anyone at any age may develop sleep apnea. Narcolepsy affects more than 500,000 Americans and symptoms may arise as early as the onset of puberty and continue throughout life. Narcolepsy itself is not life threatening, but it can have a major impact on functioning in life, like driving a car, that can have serious consequences.
Hypersomnia is excessive sleepiness.
It is an excessively deep or prolonged major sleep period and may be associated with difficulty in awakening. It is believed to be caused by the central nervous system. It typically appears before age 25 and comes on gradually. Sleepwalking affects about 18 percent of the population. It is more common in children than in adolescents and adults.