Fast Facts about Sleep Apnea

1. Sleep apnea affects up to 18 million Americans.

2. "Apnea" comes from a Greek word meaning "want of breath."

3. People with sleep apnea can stop breathing as many as 30 times or more each night.

4. Often a spouse or other family member is the first to notice signs of sleep apnea in someone with the condition.

5. People who have sleep apnea stop breathing for periods of 10 to 30 seconds while sleeping.

6. Men in general suffer from sleep apnea more often than women.

7. Sleep apnea in children has been linked to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

8. Some studies suggest sleep apnea runs in families.

9. People with sleep apnea are three times more likely to be involved in motor vehicle accidents.

10. Losing even 10 percent of body weight can help reduce the number of times a person with sleep apnea stops breathing during sleep.