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Obstructive and central sleep apnea
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Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing stops over and over while a person sleeps: it either halts completely or becomes so shallow that almost no air moves. It can happen in two different ways. In obstructive apnea, the upper airway, the passage air travels through on its way to the lungs, closes off, and air stops getting through or barely does, like a garden hose someone is standing on. In central apnea, the passage is clear, but the brain briefly stops sending the signal to breathe.
During those pauses, whatever the cause, the body can be left without the oxygen it needs. And if the apnea goes untreated, rest stops being rest: the night ends up broken into pieces by those repeated interruptions.
In brief
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops or becomes very shallow during sleep.
In obstructive sleep apnea, the upper airway becomes blocked, reducing or stopping airflow. In central sleep apnea, the brain temporarily stops sending the signals needed for breathing.
These repeated interruptions can keep the body from getting enough oxygen and, when sleep apnea goes untreated, reduce sleep quality.
Sources (2)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteSleep Apnea
- National Library of MedicineSleep Apnea
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated