How does sleep apnea affect aging?

Five percent of men over the age of fifty have sleep apnea, which means they repeatedly wake up suddenly during sleep because their airway has been shut off and they are not getting enough oxygen. Most men don't realize they're actually waking up, although they may feel tired the next day. Sleep apnea ages you because it decreases your ability to have restorative sleep, raises your blood pressure, and adds to daytime somnolence, increasing accident risk. So it increases aging of your arteries, your immune system, and increases your risk of death or disability from accidents.