yes sleep apnea is a HUGE problem and many people dont know about it
For example, sleep apnea (diagnosed in up to 10% of men over 40 as well as in women and children) has been associated with heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, hypertension, accelerated development of coronary artery disease, abnormal heart rhythms, convulsions, memory problems, slowed thinking, irritability, mood swings, depression and high speed highway crashes. http://www.thesleepsite.com/
Mark’s wife, Susan was always bothered by his snoring, but she became more troubled when she noticed that throughout the night he would stop breathing periodically, seeming to wake up to restart his breathing and then fall back asleep again. Mark occasionally remembered waking up during the night, but for the most part, he did not remember the gaps in breathing. He did, however, know that he was always tired during the day. http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleep_apnea.htm
Snoring is an age-old problem with many social consequences, including marital discord, separate bedrooms, even separation and divorce, and angry neighbors. Snoring usually occurs due to vibration of the tissue in the throat, usually while the patient is breathing through the mouth
http://www.dochazenfield.com/snoring.htm
Forty-five percent of normal adults snore at least occasionally, and 25 percent are habitual snorers. Problem snoring is more frequent in males and overweight persons, and it usually grows worse with age.
http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/snoring/snoring.cfm
Snoring is a problem shared by more than 25 percent of the population. It occurs more frequently in men and people who are overweight. Habitual snoring disrupts a family’s peaceful night’s sleep. Snoring also disturbs the snorer’s own sleep patterns, resulting in a feeling of being tired, even after what seems like a good night’s sleep. Habitual snoring makes a restful sleep nearly impossible for everyone. A snorer, however, is helpless to control or stop the snoring. At Cleveland Clinic, an ENT doctor can offer some snoring treatments.
http://cms.clevelandclinic.org/headandneck/body.cfm?id=77