How common is sleep apnea and who is at risk?
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A lot of people wonder how common obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is and who is at risk for OSA. OSA is extremely common – in fact, an estimated 54 million people living in the U.S. are affected by it.1
A lot of people think OSA only affects men, which is incorrect. It actually affects men and women, young and the old, and people of all body types. Because of this misconception, a lot of people ignore symptoms and don’t even talk to their doctor to see if they may need treatment.
A few of the common symptoms of OSA include loud snoring, lack of energy, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches and mood changes.2 Your bed partner might even be giving you clues like telling you that you snore or stop breathing during sleep.
While sleep apnea is a common condition that can affect anyone, it’s also important to understand that sleep apnea is often linked to heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, glaucoma, some types of cancer and other serious health conditions.3
Make no mistake, it’s not just about snoring – whether it’s you or your bed partner. OSA is a serious condition that can compromise your health if left untreated.3 Start by talking to your doctor or learning more about virtual care.
Improve your sleep by taking a sleep test, which can be fast, easy and is covered by many insurance providers.*
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This blog post contains general information about medical conditions and potential treatments. It is not medical advice. If you have any medical questions, please consult your doctor.
*At this time, Federal Health Care Programs beneficiaries, including but not limited to individuals with insurance coverage from Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Tricare and Veterans Affairs health (VA), are not supported by this partnership.
References
- Source: Benjafield AV, Ayas NT, Eastwood PR, et al. Estimation of the global prevalence and burden of obstructive sleep apnoea: a literature-based analysis. Lancet Respir Med. 2019;7(8):687-698. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31300334/
- Source: Sleepeducation.org. Accessed March 20, 2025. https://sleepeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/obstructive-sleep-apnea-indicator-report.pdf
- Source: Always tired? You may have sleep apnea. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. February 18, 2025. Accessed March 20, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/always-tired-you-may-have-sleep-apnea