Overview
Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder. During sleep, the airway may become blocked or the brain may not send normal signals to keep breathing steady. These repeated breathing problems can reduce oxygen levels, interrupt sleep, and leave a person feeling unrefreshed even after a full night in bed.
Key Symptoms
Common signs include loud snoring, choking or gasping during sleep, pauses in breathing noticed by another person, morning headaches, dry mouth on waking, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Some people also have trouble concentrating, memory problems, irritability, or low mood. Children may show restless sleep, behavior changes, or learning difficulties instead of obvious sleepiness.
Causes and Risk Factors
The most common form, obstructive sleep apnea, happens when the upper airway narrows or closes during sleep. Risk factors can include excess body weight, older age, a naturally narrow airway, enlarged tonsils, alcohol use, smoking, and sleeping on the back. Another type, central sleep apnea, is linked to problems with the brain's control of breathing and may occur with certain medical conditions.
Who Is Affected
Sleep apnea can affect adults and children of any sex or background. It is often underrecognized because symptoms happen during sleep and may be mistaken for ordinary snoring or poor sleep habits. People with obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke history, or type 2 diabetes may be more likely to have it.
Prevention
Not every case can be prevented, but some steps may lower risk or reduce symptoms. Maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding alcohol close to bedtime, stopping smoking, and getting evaluated for chronic nasal blockage may help. For some people, sleeping on the side rather than the back can reduce airway collapse.
Diagnosis and Tests
A healthcare professional may ask about snoring, sleepiness, witnessed breathing pauses, medical history, and sleep habits. Diagnosis is often made with a sleep study, either in a sleep center or sometimes at home, depending on the situation. Testing tracks breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate, and sleep patterns.
Treatment Categories
Treatment depends on the type and severity of sleep apnea and the person's overall health. Options may include weight-related support, positional therapy, oral devices that help keep the airway open, positive airway pressure machines, and treatment of nasal or throat problems. Some people may need evaluation for surgery or treatment for related health conditions.
Living With It
Untreated sleep apnea can affect energy, mood, work or school performance, and road safety because of daytime drowsiness. Ongoing follow-up is important because treatment may need adjustment over time. If a device is prescribed, using it regularly and reporting comfort or fit problems can improve results.
When to Seek Medical Care
Make a medical appointment if you or someone close to you notices loud snoring with pauses in breathing, choking during sleep, marked daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, or trouble staying awake while driving. Seek evaluation sooner if sleep problems are affecting work, school, mood, or blood pressure control. Children who snore regularly or breathe through the mouth during sleep should also be assessed.
When It May Be an Emergency
Get urgent medical help if a person has severe trouble breathing, blue or gray lips, chest pain, fainting, new confusion, or is very hard to wake. Also seek urgent care if extreme sleepiness is creating an immediate risk, such as falling asleep while driving. These symptoms can have serious causes and should not be ignored.