What is sleep apnea is a condition that causes you to stop breathing in your sleep. The word apnea is derived from Greek and means “breathless.” Sleep apnea can be caused by blockage of your airway (obstructive sleep apnea) or because your brain doesn’t properly control your breathing (central sleep apnea). Obstructive sleep apnea can result in loud snoring, interrupted sleep, and low oxygen levels in the blood. Untreated, this type of sleep apnea can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart problems, and stroke.

Central sleep apnea can be harder to recognize. It is characterized by pauses in breathing that last from a few seconds to a minute and occur repeatedly during the night. People who suffer from this sleep disorder may also experience a breathing pattern called Cheyne-Stokes respiration. This pattern is characterized by rapid breathing that gets deeper and faster, followed by a brief pause in breathing.

What is Sleep Apnea? A Comprehensive Guide

Several factors can contribute to sleep apnea, including age, being male, having a family history of the condition, being overweight, and smoking. Children with Down syndrome and Pierre-Robin syndrome are at increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea because of enlarged tonsils and adenoids, and the small lower jaw associated with these conditions.

Treatment for obstructive sleep apnea usually involves losing weight, eliminating alcohol and other sedative use before sleeping, stopping smoking, and using a mouthpiece to reduce snoring. Some doctors recommend CPAP therapy, which involves a machine that blows air through tubing into a mask worn on the face during sleep. Other options include surgery to remove large tonsils and adenoids, a tracheostomy (which creates an opening in the throat that you can breathe through), and other procedures.