Patient Resources

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Learn About Sleep Apnea

What is sleep apnea?

Apnea means lack of breath. The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). During sleep, the muscles of the throat relax. With OSA, your throat closes too much, blocking your airway and causing you to snore, choke and even stop breathing temporarily.

What happens to your body during apneas?

You stop breathing repeatedly, forcing you to wake up without realizing it
Your blood pressure goes up as blood oxygen levels drop
You are prevented from getting the deep, restorative sleep needed to stay healthy