The Basics of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea refers to a condition that causes an individual to frequently wake up during the night due to the interruption of airflow. It occurs when breathing stops for 10 or more seconds at a time; these episodes, called “apneas”, can occur hundreds of times in a given night. When breathing pauses, the brain sends signals to the rest of the body, briefly waking it from sleep and preventing the normal and most beneficial stages of sleep. Needless to say, this can lead to sleep debt; when the body and brain cannot complete a full sleep cycle each night, you’ll feel it more and more with each passing day.
Beyond sleep loss, this chronic issue can lead to all kinds of conditions that detract from your overall quality of life, including daytime fatigue, memory problems, moodiness and irritability, and more. It can also trigger issues that impact your cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
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