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National Sleep Foundation statistics show that more than 18 million Americans have sleep apnea.

A news release from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine says that 6 percent of the men and 3 percent of the women had been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. The survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) included 9,700 participants.

Sleep apnea can occur in anyone including children. However, the results of the survey show that being male, overweight and above 40 years of age increase risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea.

Untreated sleep apnea can cause cardiovascular disease including blood pressure, weight gain, memory problems, headaches and impotence. The new study by the CDC also suggests a link between obstructive sleep apnea and major depression.

Untreated sleep apnea can be dangerous in other ways too because it can lead to job impairment and motor vehicle crashes.

Although sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated, many people with sleep apnea remain undiagnosed because of the lack of awareness by the public and health care professionals.

Read our next post, Do You Have Sleep Apnea?, to learn how you can know whether you or a loved one has sleep apnea.

Depending on the type of sleep apnea you have, your dentist may be able to provide you with an oral appliances or advice on getting one. You can find a dentist by searching on the FreeDentistFinder.com network of quality dentists.

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