Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea: When snoring becomes dangerous

Sleep apnea is a serious disorder characterized by repeated episodes of complete or partial cessation of breathing during sleep. These pauses can last from 10 seconds to a minute and occur hundreds of times per night. Each such stop leads to a drop in blood oxygen level, causing the brain to briefly "wake up" to restore breathing. The person does not perceive these awakenings, but their sleep becomes fragmented and non‑restorative, leading to severe daytime sleepiness.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Collapse mechanism

This is the most common type of apnea (over 80% of cases). It occurs due to a mechanical obstruction in the airway. During sleep, the muscles of the throat and soft palate relax. In people with certain anatomical features (short neck, large tonsils, excess weight) this relaxation leads to complete collapse of the airways. The person tries to inhale, but air does not pass, creating a loud snoring sound followed by a pause and a loud gasp when breathing resumes.

Central sleep apnea (CSA)

This type is much rarer and is associated with dysfunction of the respiratory center in the brain. The brain simply "forgets" to send a signal to the breathing muscles. Snoring is not characteristic of this type of apnea.

Why is apnea dangerous?

Chronic nighttime hypoxia (oxygen deficiency) is a huge stress on the body and significantly increases the risk of developing:

• Arterial hypertension.
• Myocardial infarction and stroke.
• Type 2 diabetes.
• Depression and anxiety disorders.

Diagnosis is performed using a special sleep study — polysomnography. Apnea can also occur in children, which can be read about on the page "Sleep apnea in infants".