Young football players should be tested for sleep apnea, sleep group claims

Darien, IL – High school and college football players may be at higher risk of developing sleep apnea, and those who are overweight should be evaluated for the condition, warns the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Citing a study recently published in the journal Clinical Pediatrics, AASM stated that offensive and defensive linemen are at a high risk because they tend to weigh more and have large necks.

In addition to costing players restful sleep, untreated sleep apnea has been linked to high blood pressure and heart disease.