Obstructive Sleep Apnea
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The most common sleep apnea, known
as obstructive sleep apnea, results when a temporary obstruction of the main
airway, usually in the back of the throat, blocks breathing. This often occurs
because the tongue and throat muscles relax, closing the airway. The chest and
diaphragm muscles continue breathing efforts, but the obstruction prevents any
airflow for an interval lasting seconds to minutes. The body's oxygen level
drops, causing breathing efforts to become more vigorous, which eventually opens
the obstruction and allows airflow to resume. This often occurs with a loud
snort and jerking of the body and partially rouses the sleeper. After a few
breaths, the oxygen levels return to normal, sleep resumes, the muscles of the
main airway relax and the obstruction reccurs. This cycle repeats during certain
stages of sleep.
Most with obstructive sleep apnea snore, suggesting partial obstruction of the main airway. But not all snorers have obstructive sleep apnea.
