Roughly 1 out of 5 veterans suffer from sleep apnea. The rate of prevalence is significantly higher in veterans than in most other populations. There are many reasons for this, including increased exposure to dust and fumes as well as higher levels of mental anxiety.
There can be many causes of sleep apnea in veterans. Many vets are exposed to extreme environments for long periods of time. They are trained to operate on little sleep. Many gain weight after leaving service. Now vets often suffer greatly from obstructive sleep apnea, and it affects their daily life.
For many veterans, the battle doesn't end when they take off the uniform. Sleep apnea is one of the most common "invisible injuries" affecting the veteran community, with service members nearly four times more likely to develop the condition than civilians.
