Are you one of the approximately 18 million people in the United States that has sleep apnea? If so, are you using your CPAP machine?

If you think you might have sleep apnea, but haven’t been to the doctor yet, it is recommended that you do so as soon as possible. Not only does sleep apnea cause a variety of health issues, but it can also prevent you from having a good night’s rest, which can lead to other health issues.

It’s been found that two-to-four percent of people in the United States have undiagnosed sleep apnea. When this condition goes undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to strokes. A person with sleep apnea is four times more likely to have a stroke than those individuals that do not have sleep apnea.

Furthermore, in cases where sleep apnea is left untreated, individuals may also develop heart disease. Individuals with sleep apnea are three times more likely to develop a variety of heart issues than those individuals that do not have sleep apnea.

The National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research found that on an annual basis, there are approximately 38,000 deaths associated with sleep apnea. More specifically, these are due to cardiovascular-related issues associated with this condition.

Men actually experience sleep apnea more often than women. It has been found that men experience this condition nearly twice as often as women.

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, how often are you using your CPAP machine? Recent studies have shown that 80% of people that have been prescribed CPAP machines aren’t using them as prescribed. Furthermore, these same studies show that almost 50% of the people that have been prescribed CPAP machines only use them for one-to-three weeks.

Given the health risks associated with sleep apnea, it’s unclear why so many individuals that need these devices aren’t using them as prescribed. If you’ve been prescribed a CPAP machine, it’s important that you use it on a regular basis in order to maintain its effectiveness and your health.

If you are using your sleep related medical equipment as prescribed, you are likely experiencing the CPAP machine effectiveness. If you know anyone else that is suffering with sleep apnea, be sure to encourage them to use their CPAP machines as prescribed as well.