Surprising Celebrities Diagnosed with Sleep Apnea

Those who are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are certainly not alone. You might very well be surprised to learn that the number of celebrities who have been diagnosed with this very same condition. Let’s take a quick look at some famous names to put things into perspective.

“Shaquille O’Neal preparing to shoot a free throw”, by Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA

Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal proves that athletes are not immune to sleep apnea. Having been initially diagnosed at the Harvard Division of Sleep Medicine, he learned that he stop breathing 72 times per hour. Shaq loves sleeping on his back, but that causes his tongue to fall back and blocks his airway. Shaq found an oral appliance that stops his tongue from falling back and blocking his airway. With this device, Shaq gets nice uninterrupted REM sleep — and has made it his mission to educate others about sleep apnea.

“Rosie O’Donnell at a tailgate party before Barbra Streisand concert.”, by chattingjason (Jason Chatting)

Rosie O’Donnell

This well-known comedienne has made headlines over the years and one lesser-known fact about Rosie O’Donnell is that she only learned that she had sleep apnea after taking an at-home test.

Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler at the 71st Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon 2012″, by Peabody Awards

Amy Poehler

Famous for her stints on Saturday Night Live as well as Parks and Recreation, this diminutive actress is better known for her comedic genius as opposed to sleep apnea. Still, she suffers from many symptoms and unfortunately, Amy also admits that there are times when she does not adhere to the recommended treatments.

William Shatner speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for “Star Trek”, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.”, by  Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America

William Shatner

Famous for her stints on Saturday Night Live as well as Parks and Recreation, this diminutive actress is better known for her comedic genius as opposed to sleep apnea. Still, she suffers from many symptoms and unfortunately, Amy also admits that there are times when she does not adhere to the recommended treatments.

Rick Perry

Governor Rick Perry of Texas speaking at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.”, by  Gage Skidmore

Rick Perry

Being diagnosed with sleep apnea while on the campaign trail can represent a challenging situation due to the amount of energy that such a role entails. However, Rick Perry seems to be doing quite well thanks in no small part to his ability to follow the recommended treatment guidelines.

Regis Philbin

Regis Philbin at the Vanity Fair kickoff party for the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.”, by David Shankbone

Regis Philbin

This long-time talk show host has been in the public eye for decades and yet, few fans are likely to be aware that he has suffered from sleep apnea for the majority of his adult life. However, we should still mention that he only sought treatment after his wife complained that he kept her awake at night. The good news is that Regis is still very healthy and full of energy, clear evidence that modern technology plays an important role.

Roseanne Barr

Screenshot of Roseanne Barr from Jordan Brady’s film “I Am Comic”, by Roseanne_barr.jpg: Stand-Up Sucks, LLC
derivative work: William S. Saturn

Roseanne Barr

While sometimes controversial for her actions and statements, we need to keep in mind that celebrities such as Roseanne Barr are often facing their own physical challenges. After moving to Hawaii for a bit of much-needed peace and relaxation, she realized that she still had trouble sleeping. It was only after a medical evaluation that she realized that sleep apnea was the primary cause for her condition.

Quency Jones” From Wash. D.C. Watergate hotel 1997 © copyright John Mathew Smith 2001 , by Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA

Quincy Jones

Most of us would be very surprised to learn that a musician known for his powerful lungs can also suffer from sleep apnea. However, this is absolutely true for Quincy Jones. At 85 years of age, this powerhouse is still

“English:Arianna Huffington at the 2012 Time 100 gala.”, by David Shankbone (1974–)

Arianna Huffington

This actress and musician actually fractured her cheekbone after falling asleep at her desk. She knew that sleep represented an important component of a healthy lifestyle, so it was not long before she was tested and diagnosed with sleep apnea. As she leads quite a busy life, it only makes sense that she takes her ongoing treatment very seriously. Thankfully, such a wise lifestyle choice seems to be working well.

Adam Savage

Mythbuster en:Adam Savage presents at The Last Hope July 20th, 2008″, by Porkrind at English Wikipedia

Adam Savage

It seems as if this Mythbusters co-host clearly appreciates that obstructive sleep apnea is a reality. He was very open about his condition after bringing it to light on the popular social media platform Reddit. Fans will be happy to learn that his symptoms seem to have abated after losing 16 kilograms. Let’s hope that Adam maintains his weight so that he can receive the proper amount of sleep and keep busting myths.