Sleep apnea, << AP nee uh, >> is a disorder in which pauses in breathing occur during sleep. Symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring, excessive sleepiness during the day, high blood pressure, and heart problems.
The most serious type of the disorder is called obstructive sleep apnea. It occurs when suction from breathing pulls the relaxed tongue and throat together and stops air from passing to the lungs. This pause in breathing usually lasts 30 to 60 seconds and lowers the amount of oxygen in the blood. In time, the person awakens and takes several deep gasps, restoring oxygen to the blood. Then the person can fall asleep again. This process may recur hundreds of times a night.
Obstructive sleep apnea often affects overweight, middle-aged men. It may be life threatening if the pauses in breathing affect the heartbeat. However, it can be cured immediately by wearing a special mask over the nose during sleep. This treatment, called nasal CPAP (_c_ontinuous _p_ositive _a_irway _p_ressure), keeps the throat passage from closing. Other treatments include losing weight, changing sleeping positions, and surgery on the nose, throat, or jaw.
