SLEEP DISORDERS

What is sleep apnea? | What causes sleep apnea? | What are the different types of sleep apnea? | Who suffers from sleep apnea?
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea? | What sleep apnea treatments are available?

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea (sometimes also mistakenly written as sleep apnia or sleep apnoea) is a common, though often undiagnosed, sleep disorder in which you stop breathing during the night, sometimes literally hundreds of times and for as much as a minute or more. The disorder derives its name from the Greek word "apnea" meaning "without breath".

When you stop breathing oxygen levels in the blood drop and carbon dioxide levels rise. This causes your heart to pump harder and sometimes to beat irregularly, or even to stop for several seconds. Your diaphragm and chest muscles work harder and your blood pressure rises. Finally, your brain senses that your body is in trouble and wakes you sufficiently for you to breathe and, as you do so, your breathing will often be accompanied by loud snoring.

It should be noted here that snoring itself is also very common and it is estimated that about forty percent of all adults snore. Snoring is also more commonly seen in men, rather than in women. While snoring is almost always seen in cases of sleep apnea, snoring by itself does not mean that you are suffering from sleep apnea.

The information contained here should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider.

The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only and in no way should be considered as an offering of medical advice.