Why Is Sleep Important

The common risk factors for sleep apnea include being overweight, over age 65, male, Hispanic, African-American, and of Pacific Island descent. Also, individuals who smoke, use alcohol, sedatives and/or tranquilizers, and individuals with nasal congestion, heart disorders, strokes, or brain tumors are also at higher risk for sleep apnea. Occasionally, individuals who have some blockage of their airway (for example, enlarged tonsils or narrowed airway) are also at risk of developing sleep apnea.

Poor sleep hygiene refers to bad habits that interfere with an individual's ability to fall asleep. For example, drinking coffee or other caffeinated drinks in the evening, smoking, eating heavy foods late in the evening, falling asleep with the lights on and/or leaving the television on, or using a cell phone, computer, or tablet right before bed are bad habits or poor sleep hygiene can lead to insomnia.