Definition

Sleep apnea, or sleep-disordered breathing, is a condition in which breathing is briefly interrupted or even stops episodically during sleep. Because repeated arousal or even full awakening when breathing stops disturbs sleep, individuals suffering from sleep apnea are often drowsy during the day. Complications from an insufficient amount of oxygen reaching the brain are serious and even potentially life threatening. Sleep apnea appears to be far more common than was initially realized when it was first described in 1965.

Description

The syndrome of sleep apnea is subdivided into two types: central and obstructive. Central sleep apnea, in which the brain does not properly signal respiratory muscles to begin breathing, is much less common than obstructive sleep apnea. In the latter condition, there are repeated episodes of upper airway obstruction during sleep, typically reducing blood oxygen...