Have a partner or family member who snores, gasps for air, or chokes during sleep? This person most likely has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) — and it’s worth getting it checked out. Maybe it’s even your problem.

It’s not just costing you sleep — it’s costing untold amounts of money in lost productivity, as well as motor vehicle and workplace accidents.

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The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) released a new analysis this week entitled, “Hidden Health Crisis Costing America Billions.” The report underscores “the staggering cost of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea.”

OSA is now considered a chronic disease in the U.S. — and its prevalence is rising. The latest estimates show that OSA afflicts 29.4 million American men and women.

Treating sleep apnea is said to improve productivity and safety while reducing health care utilization, notes Dr. Nathaniel Watson, AASM’s former president, in a statement. He wrote an editorial about the report, which was published in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

The annual economic burden of undiagnosed sleep apnea among U.S. adults is approximately $149.6 billion, researchers say. The estimated costs include $86.9 billion in lost productivity, $26.2 billion in motor vehicle accidents, and $6.5 billion in workplace accidents.

Untreated sleep apnea also increases the risk of costly health complications — including hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and depression. The report estimates that undiagnosed sleep apnea also costs $30 billion annually in increased health care use and medication costs related to these morbid health risks.

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Unsure if you’re dealing with sleep apnea or just good old-fashioned snoring? Some warning signs to watch for include snoring and gasping or choking during sleep, along with daytime sleepiness or fatigue. A major cause of sleep apnea, by the way, is excess body weight.

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Weight loss can help improve or eliminate sleep apnea symptoms in some cases. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy can be helpful as well; the treatment helps keep the airway open by providing a stream of air through a mask that is worn during sleep.

The most important takeaway, according to researchers, is that people should seek treatment. Help with apnea may mean better sleep, greater productivity, and a reported 40-percent decline in workplace absences. Approximately 78 percent of patients reported that sleep apnea treatment was a good investment.