Reply by Dr. Howard E. Lewine
M.D. Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing · 40 years of experience · USA
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes people to stop breathing for short periods of time during sleep. These periods are called apneas. Apnea usually lasts 10 to 30 seconds. In severe cases, apneas can occur hundreds of times per night. Apnea can disrupt a person's ability to get a good night's sleep, making them less alert during the day. This may cause accidents. People with untreated sleep apnea are seven times more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident. People with untreated sleep apnea are more likely to develop high blood pressure and heart disease. View original
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Replied by Dr. Soumya Ray
MBBS, MS · 5 years of experience · India
Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing stops repeatedly during sleep. The most common form is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The throat muscles relax and narrow the airway. Thus, a state of hypoxia and hypercapnia results. The patient presented with excessive snoring, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, and difficulty concentrating. Prompt treatment is necessary as it can indicate serious conditions such as morbid obesity, metabolic syndrome and even normal tension glaucoma. Patients require treatments such as weight loss, blood pressure control, and even continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). View original
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Replied by Dr. Rajesh Mishra
MBBS, MS · 5 years of experience · India
Overview. Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing stops repeatedly. Then start. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night's sleep, you may have sleep apnea. View original
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Reply by Dr. Marcelle Freire
MBBS, MS · 5 years of experience · India
Obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome is a sleep disorder characterized by brief, recurring cessation of breathing during sleep. People with sleep apnea often experience significantly impaired quality of life because they experience fatigue and sleepiness during the day, which may reduce their cognition and work performance. In addition to the obvious effects on daily life, such as reduced productivity and increased risk of accidents, people with sleep apnea are also at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, such as uncontrolled blood pressure levels and a higher risk of heart attack or stroke. View original
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