Wesper Journal

Sleep apnea is a common but often overlooked sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, leading to fragmented rest and low oxygen levels. It comes in two main forms: obstructive (airway blockage) and central (brain signaling issue). While obesity raises risk, anyone—including women, children, and athletes—can develop it due to factors like anatomy, hormones, or genetics. Untreated sleep apnea causes daytime sleepiness, mood and memory problems, and increases risks of car accidents, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even early death. Fortunately, effective treatments exist, including CPAP therapy, dental devices, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, surgery or nerve stimulation.