Rapidly accumulating evidence shows that sleep apnea is a major factor influencing personal health and public safety. Diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome may well result in significant preventive medicine outcomes. The prevalence of sleep apnea is so high that evaluation and treatment must become the province of the primary care physician. Accurate, appropriate history, physical assessment and clinical management are the mainstays of care, with the judicial application of technology. A history of snoring, particularly when it is intermittent, interrupted by snorts, and accompanied by restless sleep or daytime sleepiness suggests the need for further evaluation. When co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes are present, formal evaluation and consideration of treatment are needed. If initial evaluation reveals severe obstructive sleep apnea with observed apneas, together with excessive daytime sleepiness, clinical management with empirical application of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may suffice in experienced hands.
越来越多的证据表明，睡眠呼吸暂停是影响个人健康和公共安全的主要因素。对该综合征的诊断和治疗很可能会带来显著的预防医学成果。睡眠呼吸暂停的患病率如此之高，以至于评估和治疗必须成为初级保健医生的职责范围。准确、恰当的病史、体格检查和临床管理是护理的主要支柱，并合理应用技术。打鼾史，尤其是当打鼾是间歇性的、被呼噜声打断且伴有睡眠不安或日间嗜睡时，提示需要进一步评估。当存在高血压、心血管疾病或2型糖尿病等合并症时，需要进行正式评估并考虑治疗。如果初始评估显示存在严重的阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停且有观察到的呼吸暂停，同时伴有过度日间嗜睡，在经验丰富的医生手中，经验性应用持续气道正压通气（CPAP）进行临床管理可能就足够了。
