Fact.
The most common type of sleep apnea
is obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. It happens
when your tongue, tonsils, or other tissues in the
back of the throat block the airway. When you try
to breathe in, the air can't get through. Central
sleep apnea is less common than OSA. Central
sleep apnea means the brain doesn't always signal the body to breathe when it should.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea Page 6 of 49
Only the Old Get Sleep Apnea
Myth.
Doctors estimate that more than 12 million Americans have OSA.
Although it's more common after age 40, the disorder can affect people of all ages. You're more likely to develop OSA if you are overweight, male, African-American, or Latino. The condition also tends to run in families.