Who's got sleep apnea?

All kinds of people have, or had, sleep apnea! Here's a list of celebrities that suffer from the disease:

  • Shaquille O’Neal Shaq was a basketball legend with his 7-foot, 325-pound frame, but he faced more than just opponents on the court. He was diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea, which can be common in larger individuals due to the extra pressure on the respiratory system during sleep. After being fitted for a CPAP mask, Shaq saw quick improvements in all aspects of his life.

  • Anne Rice Anne Rice, the literary genius behind Interview with the Vampire and Queen of the Damned, may have had a personal connection to her nocturnal characters. Rice struggled with sleep apnea due to obesity. After undergoing gastric bypass surgery, her sleep apnea cleared up thanks to the reduced weight on her chest during sleep.

  • Regis Philbin Regis Philbin, the beloved host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, didn't know what was causing his incredibly loud snoring until his wife urged him to see a doctor. It turns out he had sleep apnea. After getting fitted for a CPAP machine, both he and his wife enjoyed much quieter, restful nights.

  • Larry the Cable Guy You know Larry the Cable Guy's famous "GITRDONE" catchphrase. Despite his fun-loving persona, he struggles with sleep apnea due to his weight and lifestyle. Larry shared his diagnosis with fans during an interview for his movie Tooth Fairy 2. With the right treatment, he continues to bring laughs to fans for years to come.

  • Randy Jackson You might know Randy Jackson as the third judge on the original American Idol, but did you know he also has sleep apnea? Diagnosed with both sleep apnea and Type II Diabetes at the same time, Randy faced a double whammy. With CPAP and insulin treatments, he's doing just fine, dawg.

  • Jerry Garcia The Grateful Dead's lead gutarist, Jerry Garcia, passed away in 1995 from a heart attack, but his doctors noted that sleep apnea played a significant role. Sleep apnea often leads to severe health issues like heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. Let Jerry's memory remind us of the seriousness of untreated sleep apnea.

  • Rosie O’Donnell Rosie O’Donnell, a larger-than-life TV personality, had her sleep apnea diagnosis televised. A home sleep test revealed that she had a severe case, waking up over 200 times a night and frequently stopping breathing for up to 40 seconds. She was immediately given a CPAP, which she believes changed her life for the better.

  • Adam Savage You know Adam Savage from MythBusters and his 30-pound weight loss journey. During a Reddit AMA, he revealed his sleep apnea diagnosis. After losing those 30 pounds, his symptoms disappeared. Savage proudly considers himself “one of the lucky ones.”

  • Brett Favre Most think of sleep apnea as a condition for those out of shape, but former Packer Quarterback Brett Favre said it led to his early retirement. Despite being physically fit, he was diagnosed with sleep apnea and sought treatment immediately. “I haven’t felt this good since the first time I tried on a pair of Wrangler jeans,” Favre said. “My CPAP makes me feel like a man.”

  • Roseanne Barr Comedian, actress, and producer Roseanne Barr first opened up about her sleep apnea on her Lifetime reality show Roseanne's Nuts. Her then-husband recorded her sleeping, snoring, and gasping for air all night, which led her to get a sleep study. She was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. On the show, she also filmed herself in a sleep clinic where they suggested she take a home sleep study.

  • Jennifer Aniston America's favorite actress, Jennifer Aniston, has admitted to sleepwalking. Sleepwalking, or night wandering, is often linked to other sleep disorders like sleep apnea. She once said, “I sleepwalk. I set off our alarm once. I was outside. The alarm scared the **** out of me and I woke up, and I was out by the pool equipment in the back. I don’t know what I was doing. I heard this yelling because he’s (Brad) terrified, he hears the alarm and I’m not there!”

  • Carrie Fisher Beloved Star Wars star, actress, and author Carrie Fisher’s death shocked her family, friends, and fans. Even more devastating was the death of her mother, Debbie Reynolds, just one day later. The coroner found that sleep apnea contributed to Fisher's death. During her flight from London to Los Angeles, Fisher's assistant said she stopped breathing several times. Some claim that Fisher knew about this issue but didn't think it was sleep apnea and wasn't actively treating it. Other factors in her death included her known drug and alcohol use.

  • Amy Poehler Comedian, writer, actress, SNL cast member, and all-around funny lady Amy Poehler openly talks about sleep deprivation after childbirth. When her first child Archie was just 3 months old, she recalls falling asleep multiple times at work, while standing up and with her eyes open. After a night of being hooked up to machines and trying to sleep, Poehler met with a doctor who told her she was only getting a few minutes of REM sleep at a time and that she had sleep apnea. Now, Poehler uses a CPAP, pillows to elevate her head while sleeping, and oral appliances.

  • Reggie White Reggie White played professional football for both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers. As a defensive end, White was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice and held the NFL's record for quarterback sacks when he retired. His death at just 43 years old highlights the seriousness of sleep apnea. White was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and an inflammatory condition called sarcoidosis that affected his heart and lungs. He died in his sleep from complications of sleep apnea and is truly a legend lost. Reggie White's wife advocates for sleep apnea awareness and urges people to get a sleep test.

  • Rick Perry As Governor of Texas and former contestant on Dancing with the Stars, Rick Perry has a unique bromance with rapper Vanilla Ice. But he's often remembered for forgetting his talking points on the three main departments he wanted to eliminate if elected as the Republican candidate in the Presidential primary. He was diagnosed with sleep apnea on the campaign trail but resists using a sleep device.

  • If you are reading this YOU probably have sleep apnea, and YOU probably can't stand using a CPAP machine! Navigate over to the Mouth, throat, tongue, and facial exercises section in this website and give those a try. If they help your symptoms, see what else can help you in my book Sleep Apnea Cured in Three Steps.