| Category | Pulmonology |
Sleep apnea is a condition that causes you to stop breathing while you sleep. Sleep apnea occurs because you stop breathing while you sleep. This happens because of an airway obstruction or because the brain does not control breathing properly (central apnea). The resulting lack of oxygen triggers a survival reflex that wakes you up enough to catch your breath. While this reflex keeps you alive, it also disrupts your sleep cycle. This prevents restful sleep and can have other effects, including stress on the heart, which can have life-threatening consequences.
