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    1. Patients
    2. Sleep Apnea
    3. I Think I Might Have Sleep Apnea
    4. What is sleep apnea
    OSA Awareness, Movie, Male, Close up Yawn
    Patients

    What is sleep apnea?

    There are two types of sleep apnea:

    Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when a person's upper airway collapses during sleep. Sometimes this is a complete collapse (an apnea), while other times it is a partial collapse (a hypopnea). Less air is going in and out of the lungs, leading to less oxygen in the blood, increased breathing efforts, more awakenings, and/or increased heart activity. Central sleep apnea (CSA) occurs when a person repeatedly stops breathing during sleep not because of a blocked airway but because their brain doesn't tell the respiratory muscles to breathe. CSA is far less common than OSA.

    Sleep apnea is more common than many people may realize

    About 1 billion adults in the world suffer from sleep apnea.1 And about 8 out of every 10 people with moderate to severe OSA have not been diagnosed. In the US alone, at least 29.4 million adults suffer from sleep apnea.2 The good news is that sleep apnea is manageable. Understanding the condition can be a first step toward supporting your sleep and overall health.
    How can sleep apnea affect my overall health?

    ​​​Sleep apnea disrupts your sleep cycle and can dramatically impact your energy, mental performance and long-term health.

    Sleep apnea can have serious short- and long-term health risks if left untreated, including (but not limited to)3:

    • High blood pressure

    • Irregular heartbeat

    • Heart disease / heart attack

    • Stroke

    • Type 2 diabetes

    • Driving- and work-related accidents

    What's next?
     Man with children, Sleeping
    Know what to look for: sleep apnea symptoms and risks

    Untreated sleep apnea is associated with a number of health risks, so it’s important to consult a sleep specialist if you have these signs and symptoms.

    Nighttime symptoms3,4

    • Loud, persistent snoring

    • Witnessed pauses in breathing

    • Gasping for air during sleep

    • Restless sleep

    • Frequent visits to the bathroom

    Daytime symptoms3,4

    • Early morning headaches

    • Excessive daytime fatigue

    • Poor concentration

    • Depression or irritability

    • Sleepiness during routine activities

    OSA Awareness, Morning headaches, Rubbing temples

    Remediation of devices: June 2021 recall  

    In June 2021, following the discovery of a potential health risk related to a part in some of our CPAP, BiPAP and mechanical ventilator devices, Philips issued a voluntary Field Safety Notice (outside US) / voluntary recall notification (US only). 

    Learn more

    Frequently asked questions

    References
    1. Benjafield, A. V., Ayas, N. T., Eastwood, P. R., Heinzer, R., Ip, M. S. M., Morrell, M. J., … Malhotra, A. (2019). Estimation of the global prevalence and burden of obstructive sleep apnoea: a literature-based analysis. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 7(8), 687–698. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(19)30198-5
    2. Frost and Sullivan (2016). A Hidden Health Crisis Costing America Billions. American Academy of Sleep Medicine sleep-apnea-economic-crisis.pdf
    3. Mayo Clinic. Sleep Apnea Complications. August 2015. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/basics/complications/con-20020286
    4. NIH 2025 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. What Is Sleep Apnea? https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea Accessed August 19, 2025.