Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder which triggers pauses in breathing during sleep. These episodes, called apneas, each last long enough so one or more breaths are missed, and occur repeatedly throughout sleep. Sleep apnea is diagnosed with an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram.
Often, individuals with sleep apnea are not aware of having difficulty breathing. Because of this, sleep apnea is frequently recognized by a spouse or sleep-mate who witnesses sleep apnea episodes. Sometimes sleep apnea is suspected because of its effects on the body. Symptoms may be present for years or even decades without identification, during which time the sufferer may become conditioned to the daytime sleepiness and fatigue associated with significant levels of sleep disturbance.
