Now more than ever, Americans are doing their best to stay healthy and in tip top shape. They strive to eat healthier foods, stay active, and manage their stress levels. Despite all of these efforts however, there still lies a silent but deadly and often undiagnosed condition: sleep apnea.

The feeling of not being able to get a good night’s rest is one that most people would rather not experience on a regular basis. The tiredness, the inability to focus, and the irritability all come with the territory. Now imagine having this same feeling day in and day out. Such is the plight of sleep apnea sufferers.

Sleep and one’s overall health and well being are intrinsically tied together. And although Americans are healthier than ever before, two to four percent of all Americans have an undiagnosed case of sleep apnea. This translates to approximately one in 50 individuals being undiagnosed.

Sleep apnea is considered a potentially dangerous condition in which a person’s breathing repeatedly starts and stops throughout the night. These episodes of not breathing, known as apneas, can occur as frequently as 60 times in a single hour and last anywhere from a few seconds to several moments. Left untreated, those who suffer from sleep apnea face much highers risks of chronic diseases including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and even depression.

Luckily, there are a number of available and highly effective treatment options for sleep apnea, with BIPAP masks and CPAP masks being among the most common. BIPAP and CPAP masks are connected to BIPAP and CPAP machines respectively, and work by providing users with a continuous supply of air through a mask fitted over the nose and mouth.

For those who have limited or no insurance coverage, purchasing used BIPAP or used CPAP machines is an excellent way to treat sleep apnea while reducing costs. Used CPAP machines work just as well as a new machine but cost significantly less.