Sleep Apnea

Definition

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This can lead to poor quality of rest and other health complications if left untreated.

Analogy

Picture driving on a road with lots of stop signs - you have to halt frequently, disrupting your smooth journey. Sleep apnea is like those stop signs, interrupting the normal flow of breath (or 'drive' of sleep), causing you to wake up frequently throughout the night.

Related terms

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: This is a type of sleep apnea where throat muscles intermittently relax and block the airway during sleep.

Central Sleep Apnea: A less common type of sleep apnea that involves the brain failing to send proper signals to muscles controlling breathing.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): A common treatment for sleep apnea that uses a machine to help a person breathe more easily during sleep.