When you think of sleep apnea, you don't think of celebrities living with the same problem. After all, it seems like such a common problem, it's hard to imagine them having to deal with it too. The problem is though, sleep apnea is common, and it doesn't care how famous you are. Here are four celebrities you'll be surprised to learn to suffer from sleep apnea, and how they treat the condition.

1. Shaquille O'Neill

Shaquille O'Neill is most famously known for his prowess on the basketball court, and for some of his appearances in less than excellent movies. When you think of him, it's hard to imagine he lives with sleep apnea. It just goes to show, though, it can happen to anyone.

O'Neill was found to have moderate sleep apnea after going through tests with the Harvard Medical School's Division Of Sleep Medicine. He was fitted for a CPAP mask and now reports a marked improvement.

2. Rosie O'Donnell

Rosie O'Donnell is the larger than life TV personality that everyone knows. When she's not entertaining her audiences, she's a tireless LGBT advocate.

It was undergoing an overnight oximetry test for her TV show that showed her she had sleep apnea. her results were broadcast, and it was found she woke up over 200 times a night and could stop breathing for up to 40 seconds at a time. Those results sound scary, but it leads to her getting the right treatment.

3. Jerry Garcia

Jerry Garcia was a member of the Grateful Dead and a key proponent of the hippy movement. It's hard to think of rock stars suffering from something as mundane as sleep apnea, but he was found to have it before his death in 1995.

Garcia' death was brought about by a heart attack, which doctors say was made possible by his condition. This sounds frightening, but be aware that when treated properly, you can live a full and healthy life with sleep apnea.

4. Quincy Jones

There's not a lot of people out there who are more successful than Quincy Jones. He's a jazz trumpeter, record producer, and winner of 27 Grammys! He's worked with some of the greatest names in music, including Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson. However, through all this, he's been living with sleep apnea.

It just goes to show, sleep apnea is a condition that can be treated well, letting you wake up refreshed each morning and ready to take on the day ahead.

Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

As you can see, sleep apnea can have a real effect on your health, but when treated properly, you can live a full and normal life. Do you think you may have sleep apnea? Check this list for some of the most common symptoms:

• Waking up feeling tired and unrefreshed
• Falling asleep during the day
• Feeling irritable
• Getting headaches in the morning
• Waking up with a dry mouth or a sore throat
• Waking up several times in the night

If any of that sounds familiar, you may well have sleep apnea. This condition happens when you're unable to breathe as you sleep. This can happen because of a physical obstruction of the airways is happening, or because your brain doesn't send the signal to you to breathe.

How To Test For Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is usually diagnosed through an overnight sleep test. This test measures several body functions during the night, including how much oxygen you're taking in. This will help doctors diagnose your condition, and take steps to treat it.

Sometimes the test can be done in a lab, but it's not the best place for some patients. After all, it can be harder to sleep in a room you don't know, and sometimes you can't be away from home. That's why home overnight pulse oximetry tests are so popular.

You can set up the equipment yourself, and be tested in the comfort of your own bed. All you have to do is take the results to your doctor, and they can discuss them with you.

If you think you may have sleep apnea, now's the time to act. Get tested and start living the healthier lifestyle you want.

VirtuOx is the leader in home sleep tests and pulse oximetry.