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Health Topics | Symptoms | Medical Tests | Medications | Wellness | Support Organizations
What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when you regularly stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer during sleep. It can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe, based on the number of times per hour you stop breathing (apnea) or have slowed breathing (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. This topic focuses on obstructive sleep apnea. What causes obstructive sleep apnea? Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) usually is caused by a blockage (obstruction) in the nose, mouth, or throat (airway) from a structural problem, such as an enlarged tongue or tonsils. Other factors, such as smoking or obesity, often contribute to OSA. For example, you may have enlarged tonsils that partially block the airway. During the day when you are awake and upright, this may cause no problems. However, when you lie down at night, fatty tissue in the neck can press down on your airway, narrowing it and causing OSA. See illustrations of
normal and
blocked airways
© 1995-2005, Healthwise, Incorporated, P.O. Box 1989, Boise, ID 83701. All Rights Reserved. This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
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