Diseases

Sleep Apnea

Back

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They may occur 30 times or more an hour. Typically, normal breathing then starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound.

SYMPTOMS

Sleep: excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, nightmares, sleep deprivation, or snoring. Respiratory: episodes of no breathing, breathing through the mouth, or loud breathing, depression, dry mouth, dry throat, fatigue, headache, irritability, mood swings, or weight gain

CAUSES

Sleep apnea has many different possible causes. In adults, the most common cause ofobstructive sleep apnea is excess weight and obesity, which is associated with soft tissue of the mouth and throat. During sleep, when throat and tongue muscles are more relaxed, this soft tissue can cause the airway to become blocked