Each year we recognize National Sleep Awareness Week (March 8-14) and World Sleep Day (March 13). The annual events celebrate sleep health and encourages the public to prioritize sleep to improve overall health and well-being. Of course, many people may not understand the critical importance of chronic sleep issues like sleep apnea, but according to Carlos Nunez, MD., our country is staring down the barrel of a public health crisis with potentially catastrophic consequences. In fact, more than 50 million people in the U.S. have sleep apnea, and a shocking 80 percent are undiagnosed (936 million people in the world have undiagnosed sleep apnea).

In a special National Sleep Awareness Week preview on March 5th, Dr. Nunez will explains why sleep apnea is a silent menace, that can lead to other chronic and life-threatening conditions including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes. Another survey says that most people have trouble getting to sleep three or more times a week. Dr. Nunez talks with Mark Alyn.