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Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common and potentially serious sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. These interruptions, known as apneas, occur when the throat muscles relax excessively, causing the airway to become partially or completely blocked. The most prevalent form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which results in snoring, gasping, or choking as individuals struggle to resume breathing. Central sleep apnea (CSA) is another type, which involves a failure of the brain to signal the muscles to breathe properly. Both forms of sleep apnea can lead to fragmented and disrupted sleep patterns, resulting in excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and a range of health issues such as hypertension, cardiovascular problems, cognitive impairments, and an increased risk of accidents due to daytime drowsiness. Diagnosis and treatment options vary but often include lifestyle changes, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, dental devices, surgery, or positional therapy to alleviate symptoms and improve overall health and quality of life.