Around 25 million Americans suffer from the sleep disorder sleep apnea, a condition when a person stops breathing for a few seconds while asleep. This occurs because the throat muscles relax and then contract involuntarily. There are obvious risks to the condition; left untreated, patients may find themselves not breathing for a longer period – affecting their quality of sleep and overall health. Sleep apnea is also heavily related to other serious illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and other forms of cardiovascular conditions.
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The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recently released a report that found the condition to have a financial impact on society as well. It is estimated that annual financial burden of undiagnosed sleep apnea is around $150B. This is divided into $87 billion in lost productivity, $26 billion in car crashes, and around $7 billion in accidents that occur in the workplace.
Sleep apnea in itself is potentially deadly, but it is the cumulative and associated effects that are most worrisome. Authors of the study believe that undiagnosed sleep apnea is responsible for another $30 billion every year in increased health care and medications for its comorbidities. The authors further go on to state that if this condition is immediately diagnosed and treated, the country could see an annual saving of around $100 billion.
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The standard treatment for sleep apnea is the usage of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine that forces the airway open by pumping air through the nostrils. This stops the throat muscles from constricting and improves the quality of sleep. Those who sleep regularly and well are said to have a more positive view on life and are generally healthier compared to those who have bad sleeping habits.
Dr. Lisa Marie Cannon is an internal specialist dealing with various sleep disorders. For more information, like this Facebook page.
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