Who is most at risk for sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is more common in men than in women. The incidence increases after the age of 40 years and in women mainly after menopause.
What are the health consequences of sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea generates multiple consequences that depend mainly on the severity of the condition.
Sleep apnea fragments sleep and makes it unrefreshing, resulting mainly in chronic fatigue and daytime sleepiness, and is therefore a risk factor for traffic accidents.
Sleep apnea is also a significant risk factor for cardiovascular accidents.
What are the main causes of sleep apnea?
The main causes are:
- Overweight and obesity: high levels of fat in the abdomen and neck contribute to upper airway obstruction.
- Upper airway obstructions: e.g., retrognathia, tonsillar hypertrophy, macroglossia, short neck and adenoids.
Can sleep apnea lead to death?
The long-term consequences of sleep apnea can be serious.
Studies show that people diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea have a significantly increased risk of sudden death during sleep.