Although 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it remains remarkably misunderstood, even to some people already suffering.

Untreated obstructive sleep apnea presents very real threats: it can increase your risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack, and has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even glaucoma.

During the pandemic, as doctors and researchers scrambled for ways to save lives and fight back a brand new virus wreaking havoc on patients, a four-letter acronym gained new attention in the mainstream press.