There are few people I know who suffer from them. Sleep apnea is a very serious sleep disorder that affects 1 in 20 people. It can affect anyone, from children to adults. It occurs when a person's breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing hundreds of times while sleeping. This causes the brain and body not to receive enough oxygen. There are two types of sleep apnea, obstructed sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructed sleep apnea is the more common of the two, characterized by a blockage of the airway. Central sleep apnea is not caused by an airway blockage, but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe due to instability of the respiratory control center. Who is at risk? Men who are 40 years of age or older, who have a small neck, tonsils, tongue, and jaw, and have a family history of sleep apnea are affected. If sleep apnea is left untreated it can cause serious health problems such as high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, heart problems, depression and headaches. If sleep apnea is mild, it can be treated with weight loss and changing sleeping positions. CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure, is a treatment in which a mask is worn over your nose or mouth while you sleep. He has a mask attached to a machine that sends a continuous stream of air to his nose. It is the most common treatment for sleep apnea. Dental devices can be made and surgical procedures performed as appropriate. I saw the effects of sleep apnea on my father-in-law and the difficulties he had with it. I saw his condition improve with weight loss, but it got worse after he put all the weight back on. It's something I never want to face