Sleep Medicine Edition | Sleep Apnea & its Complications

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D., [@chutkaMD] Guest: Timothy I. Morgenthaler, M.D. It’s estimated that about 30 million people in the U.S. have sleep apnea and most don’t even know they have it. Only 20% of those with sleep apnea have been diagnosed with the condition. Sleep apnea becomes more common with advancing age and is thought to be present in up to 80% of men over the age of 80. With an increased prevalence of obesity in our population, the numbers of those with sleep apnea has increased dramatically. We’re all aware of the daytime drowsiness that is so common in patients who are untreated, but there are other numerous and potentially serious complications that can also occur. In today’s podcast, we’ll discuss the common presenting symptoms of sleep apnea, how to diagnose the condition, and the potential consequences in those who remain untreated. Our guest is Timothy I. Morgenthaler, M.D., a sleep specialist from the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the Mayo Clinic. Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.