Sleep apnea, a common disorder marked by pauses in breathing during sleep, affects millions including President Joe Biden. If untreated, it can lead to hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, depression, and even premature death. Symptoms include excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, and morning headaches.

Treatment options vary from weight loss, oral appliances, positional therapy, to surgical interventions. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are widely used to keep the airway open.

Deep sleep, crucial for cellular restoration and immune function, is often disrupted in sleep apnea sufferers, preventing them from achieving this restorative stage. Quality sleep involves uninterrupted 90-minute cycles, but sleep apnea hinders this, impacting overall sleep quality.

Promoting sleep health involves understanding disorders like sleep apnea, recognizing symptoms, and seeking treatment. Awareness is key to mitigating sleep apnea’s effects and ensuring deep, restorative sleep.