Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which a person's breathing is interrupted while asleep. People with undiagnosed sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly while asleep, sometimes hundreds of times. This is a dangerous sleep disorder because it means that the body and the brain may not get enough oxygen.
Types of Sleep Apnea
There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA).
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the more common of the two forms of sleep apnea. It is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep.
Central Sleep Apnea occurs when the brain fails to signal the muscles to breath. This may be caused due to instability in the respiratory control center.