Sleep apnea is a common disorder which causes a reduction or obstruction of airflow during sleep. Apnea is when breathing stops or becomes reduced for ten seconds or more during sleep. This can happen several times during the night, sometimes as much as 30 times or more in an hour. While it is mainly prevalent among adults, rare cases have been found in children. Many people who suffer from this disorder aren't even aware of it and usually dismiss it as fatigue or snoring. Herein lies the danger, because undiagnosed this condition can have serious side effects and can even lead to death.

Men before age 50 are more susceptible to the condition than women in the same age category; however after age 50 both genders are equally at risk. Up to 70% of people suffering from obesity have sleep apnea because of excess body fat causing constriction of the air passage and lungs.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include fatigue, the result of sleep being disrupted during the night, irritability, poor memory, insomnia and headaches. Due to the fact that these symptoms are often dismissed as simply being the result of poor sleeping patterns, apnea can often go undetected.

If untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can increase the risk of other life threatening conditions such as high blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances, diabetes and heart failure among others. Increased risk of accidents due to poor sleep and fatigue are also a risk associated with sleep apnea as it has been found that people who suffer from this disorder are three times more likely to have car or work-related accidents than their peers.

Obstructive sleep apnea can be diagnosed by a physician using a combination of a series of tests and an individual's medical history. If you suspect you may be suffering from this condition it is vital that you see your physician as soon as possible.

Once a diagnosis has been confirmed, there are several available surgical and non-surgical treatments for apnea. Non-surgical treatments include behavioral changes such as diet, weight reduction and exercise. Eating fatty foods or consuming alcohol before bedtime aggravates the situation by causing your throat muscles to become too relaxed and flabby. Your doctor may also prescribe you certain medications such as nasal sprays or hormone replacement medication if the problem is thyroid related. In mild cases of apnea dental devices to help keep the airway unobstructed and open can provide relief from the condition. More severe cases of sleep apnea can be addressed with surgery.