What is Sleep Apnea?
The full name of this sleep breathing disorder is Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome or SAHS. It consists of repeated episodes of upper airway obstruction that causes 10-30 second breathing pauses, known as apneas, during deep sleep.
- During sleep the muscles of the body, including those in the throat, relax. Because of this relaxation, the airway may become blocked, causing air to not flow normally.
- When this happens and air does not flow through the airway for a few seconds, it is called apnea.
- Each time an apnea occurs, there is a drop in oxygenation and the body reacts by forcing the lungs to search for air, causing transient awakenings or micro-wakenings.
- This situation causes at the end of the night a fragmented and unrefreshing sleep.
