Patient Resources
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
What are the symptoms?
Snoring
Excessive daytime sleepiness
High blood pressure
Poor memory and/or concentration
irritability
Morning headaches
Weight gain
Depression
What are the benefits of treatment?
Uninterrupted sleep for you and your bed partner
Improved energy levels and mood
Decrease risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes