Healthcare: Sleep Medicine

Sleep Apnea

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About Sleep Apnea

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Sleep apnea is breathing that stops during sleep. The problem can be mild or severe, based on how often your lungs don't get enough air. When you stop breathing or have reduced airflow into your lungs during sleep, you don't sleep well, and you can be very tired during the day. The oxygen levels in your blood may go down, and carbon dioxide levels go up. It may lead to other problems, such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

Sleep apnea can range from mild to severe, based on how often breathing stops during sleep. Breathing may stop as few as 5 times an hour (mild apnea) to 30 or more times an hour (severe apnea)

The two main types of sleep apnea are obstructive sleep apnea, caused by blocked airways, and central sleep apnea, caused by a problem with how the brain signals the breathing muscles.

Sleep apnea can cause you to snore loudly. People with sleep apnea often have sleep problems and are tired during the day. And they are more likely to have high blood pressure and some heart problems.

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