The National Institute of Health states that sleep apnea is a very common problem that affects more than twelve million Americans. “Apnea” literally means “without breath” and is commonly caused by a blockage of the airway. People with sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during the night. At each apnea event, the brain briefly awakens the sleeper in order for them to resume proper breathing. Consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality. Lack of a deep, restful sleep causes you to wake up feeling tired and unrefreshed. It can also lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, which is falling asleep when you shouldn’t. You may experience memory loss and concentration problems, and even personality changes in more extreme cases. If left untreated, sleep apnea can be the cause of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed by a doctor or sleep specialist and treated. Your doctor or sleep specialist can tell you which treatment option is best for you.