How serious is sleep apnea? Dr. Richard Vivero, Otolaryngologist at Baptist Health South Florida, calls it “the silent killer”.  A dangerous, slowly progressing condition that’s putting the body under a tremendous amount of stress, especially the heart, lungs, and kidneys. There might even be a relationship between sleep apnea and high blood pressure. Dr. Vivero explains how to differentiate harmless snoring from sleep apnea, and what are some of the diagnostic tests performed to properly diagnose and treat this disease. Treatment options go from minimally invasive like nose pillows and a facial mask, all the way to major surgery.