Osmosis video - Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. These apneic events can occur several times an hour and last from a few seconds to minutes. Symptoms include snoring, daytime sleepiness and fatigue, and morning headaches. There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, caused by a physical blockage of the airway, and central sleep apnea, caused by a failure of the brain to properly control breathing. Older age, obesity, and male sex are the strongest risk factors.