Living with Sleep Apnea: Steps You Can Take for Better Sleep and Health

March 13, 2025 at 08:01 AM EDT

(BPT) - Who doesn't love a sound night's sleep?

Good sleep can start you on your way to flourish in life by helping you achieve goals, feel productive at home and work, and have a fulfilling social life.

Oftentimes, several things can get in the way of good, healthy sleep. Lifestyle choices, environmental disruptions, and even serious medical conditions including sleep disorders make the list.

Millions of Americans are living with undiagnosed and untreated sleep disorders.

These conditions don't just keep many of us from getting enough of the quality sleep we need. They also can have very real health consequences.

Sleep Apnea: A Serious Public Health Concern

Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders. It occurs when breathing pauses during sleep - also called an apnea or apneic event - for ten seconds or more.

Obstructive sleep apnea (or OSA) is when some feature of a person's head or neck blocks their airway during sleep, causing them to stop breathing and gasp for breath throughout the night.

People with OSA don't just get poor, disrupted sleep. They also can feel tired, sleepy and unfocused during the day. This puts them at higher risk for a drowsy driving crash when they're behind the wheel and for having an accident on the job.

Recent independent findings from new National Sleep Foundation (NSF) research project nearly 29 million Americans suspect they have sleep apnea. Even more alarming, one in three adults who say they have already been diagnosed with the disorder go untreated.

When it is unmanaged, sleep apnea is linked to other serious health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, cognitive decline, and depression.

Why Knowing Matters: Sleep Apnea is a Serious Medical Condition

Male doctor consulting an older female patient in his office.

Nearly 32 million adults don't view sleep apnea as a serious medical issue that requires treatment. On top of that, only one in four adults can identify a few of the health consequences of untreated sleep apnea.

Estimates show a staggering 45 million adults would prefer not to know if they had the condition. So, there's still a lot people can learn to help them change their attitudes and take action if they or a loved one has sleep apnea. A good starting point is to understand the options people have today to help get diagnosed and treated.

Understanding Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea

Young male patient talking with doctor in his office.

People generally know about the most common sleep apnea treatments. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most common and well-known treatment, where a bedside machine provides a steady flow of air through a nosepiece or mask to help keep a person's airway open during sleep. Other therapies such as lifestyle changes including weight loss, changes to your sleeping position, and healthy sleep behaviors can also be important. There are even treatment options that can fit in the mouth to help keep the airway open during sleep, like custom-fit dental appliances.

Unfortunately, four in 10 adults can correctly identify just 50% or fewer of the treatment options for sleep apnea. Medications, surgical options and implantable devices also are available but are the least-known treatment options.

What's encouraging is nearly eight in 10 Americans say they would prioritize treatment if diagnosed with sleep apnea. So, it's time to help more people get the diagnosis they need and understand the treatments available to them. When people know more, they can make the best choice for them with the help of their healthcare professional.

The number of approaches available to treat sleep apnea continues to grow, including newer solutions that can help people who haven't benefitted from other established types of treatment.

Inspire^® therapy is the FDA-approved implantable treatment for people with obstructive sleep apnea who have tried and failed CPAP. It is a surgically implanted device placed by your collarbone that delivers gentle electrical pulses to your tongue muscles to help keep your airway open, so you can breathe more regularly while you're sleeping.

Becoming Your Best Slept Self^{^®}

Woman stretching and yawning as she wakes up in bed after a great nights sleep.

Anyone and everyone can be their Best Slept Self. Sometimes that means seeking help from a medical professional if you suspect you have a sleep disorder, like sleep apnea.

If you have sleep apnea, getting diagnosed and pursuing an effective treatment are important steps to improving your sleep and health.

When you control your sleep apnea through lifestyle changes, medical treatments and good sleep habits you can live more of the life you're wanting to live.

For more sleep health information and to learn about OSA treatment options, visit theNSF.org. To learn more about Inspire therapy, visit www.inspiresleep.com.

There's only one National Sleep Foundation (NSF). NSF is an independent nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving health and well-being through sleep education and advocacy. Founded in 1990, the NSF is committed to advancing excellence in sleep health theory, research and practice. In its 35 years, NSF has promoted sleep health through expert recommendations, consensus guidelines, tech standards, and easy-to-use tips and tools to improve sleep. For more information about NSF, visit www.theNSF.org and SleepHealthJournal.org.

The Understanding Sleep Apnea Report and source research was independently produced by National Sleep Foundation (NSF). Funding for these activities and support to share NSF's results were provided by Inspire Medical Systems. The report is being released during NSF's 27th annual Sleep Awareness Week^®, a multi-sponsored educational and public awareness campaign for which Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. is a Platinum Sponsor. NSF independently produces Sleep Awareness Week and all related official educational content.

Inspire Medical Systems, Inc., is a medical technology company, providing Inspire^® therapy - a treatment solution for people with moderate to severe OSA who have tried and failed CPAP. More information, including important safety information and product manuals can be found at inspiresleep.com/safety or by calling 1-844-OSA-HELP. For additional information about Inspire, please visit www.inspiresleep.com.

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Living with Sleep Apnea: Steps You Can Take for Better Sleep and Health

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