SLEEP-APNEA AS RISK FACTOR

Sleep apnea and snoring are widely discussed as risk factors for inter nal and neurological diseases. The pre valence of snoring in an Austri an population survey is about 27.2% (males 36.5%, females 18.9%), and that of apnea (respectively irregularity and/or cessation of breathing ) about 8.5% (31% of all snorers). Clinical symptoms like naps, daytim e sleepiness, unquiet sleep, hypertonia, headache in the morning and p sychological symptoms may be characteristics of sleep apnea. They shou ld lead to further diagnosis and removal of this risk factor for ische mic heart disease and stroke.