Sleep Apnea - What Is Sleep Apnea? - NHLBI, NIH
Mar 24, 2022 · This is the most common type of sleep apnea. Anything that could narrow your airway such as obesity, large tonsils, or changes in your hormone levels can increase your risk for obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea happens when your brain does not send the signals needed to breathe. Health conditions that affect how your brain controls ...
Sleep Apnea - Symptoms - NHLBI, NIH
Mar 24, 2022 · Your partner may alert you to some of the symptoms of sleep apnea, such as: Breathing that starts and stops during sleep; Frequent loud snoring; Gasping for air during sleep; You may also notice the following symptoms yourself: Daytime sleepiness and tiredness, which can lead to problems learning, focusing, and reacting; Dry mouth or headaches
Sleep Apnea - Causes and Risk Factors - NHLBI, NIH
Mar 24, 2022 · Obesity: This condition is a common cause of sleep apnea. People with this condition can have increased fat deposits in their necks that can block the upper airway. Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent or treat sleep apnea caused by obesity. Sex: Sleep apnea is more common in men than in women. Men are more likely to have serious sleep ...
Sleep Apnea - Treatment - NHLBI, NIH
Sep 6, 2023 · A breathing device, such as a continuous positive airway pressure machine, is the most common treatment for sleep apnea. A CPAP machine provides constant air pressure throughout your upper airways to keep them open and help you breathe while you sleep. Such breathing devices often work best when they are paired with healthy lifestyle changes.
Sleep apnea: NHLBI sheds light on an underdiagnosed disorder
Aug 22, 2017 · Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common, is caused by blockage of the upper airway and results in temporarily impaired airflow during sleep. This blockage sometimes causes loud snoring, snorting, and gasping, but not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send correct signals to your breathing ...
Obstructive sleep apnea associated with increased risks for long …
May 11, 2023 · Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway becomes blocked during sleep, which interrupts breathing. The condition affects about 1 in 8 adults but is often underdiagnosed. The study was funded by RECOVER ( OT2HL161847 ) and received additional support from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences ( UL1TR002494 ).
Sleep Apnea - Sleep Apnea and Women - NHLBI, NIH
Mar 24, 2022 · Sleep apnea is often more serious in the third trimester of pregnancy and may improve after your baby is born. Pregnant women who are older or who have obesity have a higher risk of sleep apnea. In pregnant women, sleep apnea can cause many complications, including: Cesarean sections; Gestational diabetes; High blood pressure; Low birth weight ...
Sleep Apnea - Living With - NHLBI, NIH
Mar 24, 2022 · In children, sleep apnea can lead to problems with learning and memory, known as learning disabilities. The daytime sleepiness and fatigue that results from sleep apnea can also impact your child’s behavior and their desire to be physically active. Sleep apnea affects many parts of your body.
Sleep apnea in women: New research could lead to better …
Jan 13, 2020 · One problem: Until recently, many doctors viewed sleep apnea as mostly a man’s disease, and that resulted in many more men than women getting diagnosed with the disorder. Studies now show that sleep apnea in women is likely underestimated and undertreated, as signs and symptoms of sleep apnea in premenopausal women are different compared to men.
CPAP CPAP - CPAP | NHLBI, NIH
Mar 24, 2022 · CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is a machine that uses mild air pressure to keep breathing airways open while you sleep. Your healthcare provider may prescribe CPAP to treat sleep-related breathing disorders including sleep apnea. CPAP also may treat preterm infants who have underdeveloped lungs.