Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night's sleep, you might have sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, happens when the muscles in the back of your throat relax, causing your airway to narrow or close. You can't get enough air, which can lower the oxygen level in your blood. Your brain senses that you're struggling to breathe and briefly wakes you from sleep so that you can reopen your airway. This awakening is long enough for you to start breathing again, but is usually so brief that you don't remember it.
You might snort, choke or gasp. This pattern can repeat itself five to 30 times or more each hour, all night long. Sleep apnea interferes with your ability to get deep, restful sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea can lead to:
If you have obstructive sleep apnea you may have:
People who are overweight or have type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea. And obstructive sleep apnea can be an underlying cause of high blood pressure. If you have any of these related health conditions, ask your doctor if you should be evaluated for possible obstructive sleep apnea.
Effective treatments are available. For milder cases of sleep apnea, your health care provider may recommend only lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, moderating alcohol use or quitting smoking. If your symptoms don't improve or if your apnea is moderate to severe, a number of medical treatments are available.
Talk to your doctor if you have signs or symptoms of sleep apnea.