In recent years as Americans continue to try to pack more hours into every day, people are getting less sleep than they need to remain healthy. Two hundred years ago the average American got 8 to 9 ½ hours of sleep per night. Today we average 6 to 7 ½ hours per night. Unfortunately our bodies haven’t changed over that time, and so we suffer the consequences.

When we sleep our immune system kicks into high gear and tissue healing improves. Revitalizing hormones, like growth hormone and others, also reach peak levels. Without proper sleep, the stressful lifestyles most of us lead will inevitably catch up with us. This usually results in low energy levels, low resistance to disease, depression, poor wound healing, irritability and even anxiety disorders.

Many Americans suffer from a condition that prevents them from getting even the paltry average most of us get. Believe it or not, we’re not talking about insomniacs. No, these people go to bed every night, just like the rest of us. As a matter of fact, most of them fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow. They actually think they’re getting a full night’s sleep…but they’re not. Not even close. We’re talking about sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder in which the person actually stops breathing for up to 90 seconds. Then they usually gasp for breath, awakening in a panic, and resume breathing. This can happen several hundred times per night, resulting in a sleepless night. Unfortunately, this pattern usually occurs without the person ever realizing they’ve awakened, since they usually drift right back to sleep.

These individuals are most commonly overweight, middle-aged men, who snore and snort loudly while sleeping. They tend to toss and turn frequently, and many times their mates will notice the breaks in their breathing pattern.

Sleep apnea is more than just an inconvenience to all concerned. It is a serious medical condition. According to a report in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, sleep apnea may cause as many as 38,000 cardiovascular deaths per year in the United States alone. Studies have shown that sufferers have a 40 percent greater risk of having a stroke than non-snorers.

There are two types of sleep apnea that can be causing the problem. The most common form is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It is usually associated with snoring, and it occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax, collapsing the airway. This prevents the person from inhaling, which stops their breathing. As their blood oxygen levels fall, the brain sends an emergency signal that the body must gasp for air. This causes the person to awaken, sometimes just slightly, and take a large breath. When they do, the throat muscles regain their tone and breathing resumes.

Most people won’t remember ever waking up. Because their sleep is perpetually interrupted, however, most sleep apneics are constantly tired and sleepy, often napping or dozing at home, work or worse, while driving.

The second, more rare form of sleep apnea is called central apnea. Simply put, central apnea means the brain forgets to tell the body to breath. In this form of apnea the airway remains open, but the diaphragm and chest muscles don’t take a breath. Usually central apnea is associated with certain neurological or cardiopulmonary disorders. Research is still being done to better determine the cause. Some people with sleep apnea may actually suffer with a mix of both.

The most common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea through the night are loud snoring, choking or gasping while sleeping, restless sleep, mouth breathing, night sweats, palpitations, and nightmares. In addition, people with sleep apnea may suffer with high blood pressure, palpitations or irregular heartbeat, morning headaches, chronic fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability and anxiety disorders.

While this most commonly affects middle-aged, overweight men, it does occur in women and even children– many of whom are not overweight. If you suffer from some of these symptoms ask your doctor if a sleep study is in order. A sleep study is a test called polysomnography, in which electrodes (taped on), and other monitors record brain and muscle activity, oxygen levels and respiratory activity while you sleep. It can be done in a hospital setting, or overnight in your own home.

If sleep apnea is confirmed there are many options for treatment. The most common is to be fitted with a machine called a CPAP, which stands for Continuous Positive Air Pressure. This is a device that has a facemask that is connected to a machine that simply forces air into the nostrils, keeping the airway open. It sounds uncomfortable, but most people who use it seem to develop a love affair with their CPAP machines after just a few nights.

Other less popular options involve surgically removing tissue from the back of the throat. This is decreasing in popularity because it tends to be less effective, and many people suffer from a return of symptoms after a short period. Yet another option which is being researched is the use of a dental appliance which encourages nose breathing. Initial studies indicate that it may be very effective.

If you suspect that you or a loved one suffers from sleep apnea, don’t ignore the symptoms. Talk to your doctor and strongly consider a sleep study. Staten Island University Hospital has a sleep disorder clinic, as do many major hospitals. Most major insurance plans will pay for the study, and if needed, the prescribed treatment.