Sleep apnea is a condition which increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and diabetes and increases the chance of car accidents or other accidents. Sleep apnea is a leading cause of excessive daytime sleepiness. The most common type is known as obstructive sleep apnea. Symptoms may include snoring and either shallow or paused breathing during sleep. The number of people with sleep apnea is increasing due to rising rates of obesity.
The American College of Physicians, a leading medical group, has recently issued new guidelines for treatment of sleep apnea. These guidelines emphasize weight loss as an initial treatment, followed by utilizing a special mask during sleep.
A description of the new recommendations may be found here: