[CME: Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Common Disease].

CME: Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Common Disease Abstract. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep related breathing disorder with a collapse of the upper respiratory tract, leading to repetitive oxygen desaturations and 'micro arousals'. If the physiological sleep architecture is impaired, patients are at risk for an increased daytime sleepiness and an increased blood pressure. Main risk factors are central obesity, age, male sex, (and snoring). By means of weight loss, alcohol restriction, and continuous nocturnal positive pressure ventilation (CPAP), the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome can be treated, with mandibular advancement devices representing a second-choice therapy.