Apnea
When breathing stops completely, or almost completely, for at least a few seconds during sleep. Like a hose that is blocked for a while.
A little more detail
Under the AASM 2012 rule, a drop of at least 90% from baseline in the oronasal thermal sensor signal, lasting at least 10 seconds. If respiratory effort continues it is classed as obstructive, if there is no effort at all as central, and if both occur as mixed apnea.
Source: Berry RB, Budhiraja R, Gottlieb DJ et al. Rules for scoring respiratory events in sleep: update of the 2007 AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events. J Clin Sleep Med. 2012;8(5):597-619. doi:10.5664/jcsm.2172
Articles that use this term
- Alcohol, late meals and snoring
- The first weeks with CPAP
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- The night of a sleep test: what happens, and how to prepare
- The difference between snoring and sleep apnea
- Weight and snoring
- What affects snoring: position, weight, alcohol, the nose
- What are the signs of sleep apnea?
- What happens to our breathing during sleep?
- When does snoring matter?
- Why does the airway narrow during sleep?
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