Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a syndrome characterized by periodic episodes of apnea and/or hypopnea during sleep with oxyhemoglobin desaturation; the sleeping partner often  describes snoring, gasping, choking, or pauses in breathing followed by snorting and/or body jerking. Sufferers have excessive daytime somnolence, nonrefreshing sleep, morning headaches, decreased ability to concentrate, poor memory, irritability, mood disturbance, impotence. They also have an increased risk for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and insulin resistance. The prevalence of OSA in adults is2% in women and 4% in men.