Sleep apnea is believed to affect at least one out of every 200 Americans; 70-90 percent are men, mostly middle-aged and usually overweight. However, the condition can afflict men or women at any age.
The word "apnea" means the absence of breathing. People with this disorder actually may stop breathing while asleep - even hundreds of times - without being aware of the problem. During an apnea attack, the snorer may seem to gasp for breath, and the blood may become abnormally low. In severe cases, a sleep apnea victim may actually spend more time not breathing than breathing.
