Sleep related breathing disorders are a group of disorders that affect our breathing while we are asleep, and are characterized by disruptions of normal breathing patterns that only occur during sleep. Therefore, the person with the disorder may be the last to know he or she has a problem. Sleep related breathing disorders constitute a subset of the broad group of sleep disorders that include many other disorders such as insomnia (difficulty sleeping), hypersomnia (inappropriately falling asleep, for example, narcolepsy), parasomnias (activities during sleep, for example, sleepwalking and sleep terrors), and sleep related movement disorders (for example, restless leg syndrome). The most common sleep related breathing disorders are snoring and sleep apnea.

More than 50 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. Despite this ever growing statistic, unfortunately over 90% remain undiagnosed. In the U.S., forty-five percent of the population snore and 25 percent are habitual snorers. In fact, one in 3 men and approximately 1 in 5 women who are habitual snorers suffer from some degree of sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea is by far the most common sleep disorder affecting over 18 million Americans. The consequences of untreated sleep apnea can range from mild to severe, including:

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Stroke, diabetes
• Depression
• Obesity
• Impotency
• Decreased cognitive function
• Higher incidence of automobile accidents