Sleep Apnea at a Glance
Sleep apnea is a common breathing disorder that can be very serious.
In sleep apnea, your breathing stops or gets very shallow for periods of 10 seconds or longer many times during the night.
Most people with sleep apnea regularly snore loudly.
Loud snoring and choking or gasping during sleep and being sleepy during the day are the most common signs of sleep apnea.
Having a physical exam and providing your doctor with information about your sleep will help to diagnose sleep apnea. Your doctor may also want you to have special sleep tests.
Treatment is aimed at restoring regular nighttime breathing and relieving symptoms such as loud snoring and daytime sleepiness. Treatment will also help associated medical problems such as high blood pressure and reduce the risk for heart attack and stroke.
Test Your Knowledge about Sleep
Page updated 2/01/09
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