Sleep Apnea

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs when you regularly stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer during sleep. It can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the number of times in an hour that your breathing stops (apnea) or becomes very slow (hypopnea). Apnea episodes may occur from 5 to 50 times an hour.

There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and mixed sleep apnea.

What causes obstructive sleep apnea?

A blockage or narrowing of the airways in your nose, mouth, or throat generally causes obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This usually occurs when the throat muscles and tongue relax during sleep and partially block the airway.

Sleep apnea can also occur if you have bone deformities or larger than normal tissues in your nose, mouth, or throat. For example, you may have large tonsils. During the day when you are awake and standing up, this may not cause problems. However, when you lie down at night, your tonsils can press down on your airway, narrowing it and causing sleep apnea.

Other factors that make sleep apnea more likely include being obese, using certain medicines or alcohol before bed, and sleeping on your back.

Please read the following articles to answer your questions about sleep apnea:

Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Sleep Apnea Diagnosis and Treatment
Sleep Apnea Surgery