What it means
Repeated pauses in breathing (apneaAP-nee-uhA pause in breathing, or breathing that has stopped.a- without-pnea breathingFull entry ) during sleep, each lasting 10 seconds or more. In obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, the throat muscles relax and block the airway; in central sleep apnea, the brain does not send the signal to breathe. It causes loud snoring, gasping, daytime sleepiness and morning headaches, and raises the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and accidents. It is diagnosed with a sleep study.
For the nurse
Ask clients who use a CPAP machine at home to bring it to the hospital. Clients with sleep apnea are more sensitive to opioids and sedatives: watch breathing and oxygen saturation closely, especially during sleep and after surgery. Weight loss and sleeping on the side can help.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | OSA (obstructive sleep apnea); CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | apnea del sueño |
| Also written | sleep-apnea |
Related terms
-pnea
A word ending that means breathing.
BMI
Body mass index: a number worked out from a person's weight and height that sorts weight into categories.
apnea
A pause in breathing, or breathing that has stopped.
insomnia
Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or getting restful sleep.
drowsiness
Feeling sleepy or less alert than usual.