What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea (apnea is a Latin word meaning “without breath”) is a serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops long enough during sleep to decrease the amount of oxygen and increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood and brain. There are three types of sleep apnea but the most common is called obstructive sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep due to the obstruction and/or collapse of the upper airway (throat), usually accompanied by a reduction in blood oxygen saturation, and followed by a wakening to breathe. It most commonly occurs in obese people who tend to sleep on their back. Obesity, perhaps in combination with aging body tissues and other factors, leads to narrowing of the upper airway.