Sleep Apnea

Pronunciation

Definition 1

A sleep disorder that is marked by pauses in breathing of 10 seconds or more during sleep, and causes unrestful sleep. Symptoms include loud or abnormal snoring, daytime sleepiness, irritability, and depression. (NCI Dictionary)

Definition 2

Cessation of breathing for short periods during sleep. It is classified as obstructive, central, or mixed obstructive-central. It can occur at any age but it is more frequent in people over forty. Risk factors include male sex and obesity. (NCI Thesaurus)

Definition 3

A disorder characterized by cessation of breathing for short periods during sleep. (NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

Definition 4

Cessation of breathing for short periods during sleep. It is classified as obstructive, central, or mixed obstructive-central. (NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Definition 5

Disorders characterized by multiple cessations of respirations during sleep that induce partial arousals and interfere with the maintenance of sleep. Sleep apnea syndromes are divided into central (see SLEEP APNEA, CENTRAL), obstructive (see SLEEP APNEA, OBSTRUCTIVE), and mixed central-obstructive types. (NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Definition 6

cessation of breathing for 10 seconds or more during sleep and consequent oxygen desaturation. (NIH CRISP Thesaurus)

More information

Sleep apnea is a common disorder that causes your breathing to stop or get very shallow. Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They may occur 30 times or more an hour.

The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea. It causes your airway to collapse or become blocked during sleep. Normal breathing starts again with a snort or choking sound. People with sleep apnea often snore loudly. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.

You are more at risk for sleep apnea if you are overweight, male, or have a family history or small airways. Children with enlarged tonsils may also get it.

Doctors diagnose sleep apnea based on medical and family histories, a physical exam, and sleep study results.

When your sleep is interrupted throughout the night, you can be drowsy during the day. People with sleep apnea are at higher risk for car crashes, work-related accidents, and other medical problems. If you have it, it is important to get treatment. Lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, surgery, and breathing devices can treat sleep apnea in many people. (NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

Also called: Apnea, Sleep