A 36-year-old member asked:
Is sleep apnea common?
4 doctor answers • 17 doctors weighed in

Dr. Jeffrey Jarvisanswered
Dentistry 38 years experience
Yes: It has been published that it affects 4% of men and 2% of women, but personally, i think it is much higher. Unfortunately, it has been given lower priority than other medical conditions. That is now changing as we are discovering that is is associated with considerable medical and psychiatric morbidity and even mortality.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. James Donley commented
Dentistry 55 years experience
I have seen it published that at some point 1 in 4 men and 1 in 11 women will develop sleep apnea. It is a factor in all chronic disease and the number one cause of high blood pressure. Several studies of stroke victims said 91 % had sleep apnea.
Aug 18, 2012

Dr. Farhad Sigarianswered
Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery 21 years experience
Yes: Not only is it very common, but more concerning is that some studies estimate that upto 90% of those with sleep apnea havent been diagnosed with it yet (they don't know they have it).
5.6k viewsReviewed Dec 01, 2021

Dr. Lance Timmermananswered
Specializes in Cosmetic Dentistry
Yes: Most people with it are not diagnosed yet. Published numbers are low, and most authors of studies admit that the number is likely much higher.
Many people snore and "insist" they don't have apnea. Most of them are wrong and unable to diagnose. Even if a spouse says they don't observe a struggle to breathe, a person can have this life threatening condition.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. John Feolaanswered
Internal Medicine 32 years experience
R/O OSA: OSA can be suggested by history and physical. Excess snoring/daytime sleepiness/apneic episodes/ aM headaches. And the Exam obesity/small oral airway/collar size>18. The definitive test is a PSG with split night/CPAP titration. I would request copy of sleep study and get a second opinion if you are not satisfied with the options. You are young CPAP can be difficult to tolerate. ENT FOR UPP EVAL.
3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
United Kingdom
A 36-year-old female asked:
Is sleep apnea common in epileptics and if so, which type?
2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

Dr. David Wishnewanswered
Wound care 43 years experience
Sleep apnea: There is little causal relationship between having epilepsy and sleep apnea. Epilepsy usually implies an anatomical or electrical problem in the brain, whereas sleep apnea usually implies an obstructive process of the upper airway.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Dec 1, 2021
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