Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops or becomes shallow during sleep. These episodes fragment sleep and can lower blood oxygen levels.

Obstructive sleep apnea: A form of sleep apnea in which the upper airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep despite continued breathing effort. Airway collapse is the most common mechanism behind sleep apnea.
Polysomnography: An overnight sleep study that records brain activity, breathing, oxygen levels, heart rhythm, and other signals. It can identify breathing events and distinguish apnea types.
Sleep architecture: The organization of sleep into recurring stages of non-rapid eye movement and rapid eye movement sleep. Apnea frequency and effects can vary across sleep stages.
Excessive daytime sleepiness: Persistent difficulty staying awake or alert during waking hours. Fragmented sleep can leave people with sleep apnea unusually sleepy during the day.
Snoring: A sound produced by vibration of tissues in the upper airway during sleep. Snoring commonly accompanies obstructive apnea, but can occur without repeated breathing pauses.
Central sleep apnea: A form of sleep apnea in which the brain temporarily fails to send consistent signals to the muscles that control breathing. It interrupts breathing without the airway blockage characteristic of obstructive apnea.
Home sleep apnea testing: A portable test that records selected breathing and oxygen signals during sleep at home. It offers a simpler diagnostic option for some adults with suspected obstructive apnea.
Sleep fragmentation: Repeated interruptions that prevent sleep from remaining continuous and restorative. Breathing events often trigger brief awakenings that fragment sleep.
Systemic hypertension: Persistently elevated blood pressure in the body's systemic arteries. Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with hypertension, and treatment may help some patients.
Obesity hypoventilation syndrome: A disorder involving obesity and persistently inadequate ventilation, often with elevated carbon dioxide while awake. It can coexist with obstructive apnea but involves sustained daytime breathing impairment.

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