After a poor night's sleep, we have all experienced the sluggish feeling and other unpleasant effects that make the day seem to drag. For those who suffer from sleep apnea, the consequences are multiplied and potentially life-threatening.
Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder which causes many brief interruptions of breathing during sleep.
The number of breathing pauses may be as high as 20 to 30 or more in an hour. The frequent interruptions of deep, restorative sleep often lead to early morning headaches and excessive daytime sleepiness. It has been estimated that as many as 18 million Americans have sleep apnea. Most sleep apnea results when air cannot flow into or out of a sleeper's nose or mouth. In other cases, the brain fails to send the appropriate signal to breathe.