Sleep apnea is a disorder in which your breathing is interrupted for periods of 10 seconds or more while you are asleep. These interruptions may occur hundreds of times a night, causing you to gasp for air and disrupting your sleep.
There are two main types of sleep apnea:
If sleep apnea isn't treated, it can lead to other serious health problems, including:
Some common symptoms of sleep apnea include:
If you think that you might have sleep apnea, your doctor may be able to make a diagnosis based on the description of your symptoms. If addition, an overnight evaluation may be needed to assess the situation and identify the cause of your sleep problems.
During an overnight evaluation, your breathing and other bodily functions are monitored while you sleep. A test called polysomnography may be used to monitor your heart, lung and brain activity as well as your breathing patterns, blood oxygen levels and body movements as you sleep.
Sleep apnea rarely goes away without treatment. Some means of treating the disorder involve lifestyle changes and behavior modification, such as losing weight, varying your sleep position and not sleeping on your back.
Other treatment options include devices that help open up the airways, such as a dental device designed to open the throat by bringing the jaw forward. Another option is to use a machine that delivers air through a facial mask, called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which uses pressure to keep your airway passage open and prevent sleep apnea.
Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated
December 21, 2011
Sleep Disorders Center
2330 Post St., Suite 420
San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: (415) 885-7886
Fax: (415) 885-3650
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