What Is Sleep Apnea?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
4. What Causes Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles of the throat relax too much while you are asleep, which results in a narrowed or closed-off airway. If you are not receiving enough oxygen, your brain senses it and sends you a wake-up signal to open your airway back up. This can repeat throughout the night and limit the amount of quality deep sleep you are able to achieve.
Central sleep apnea is not as common as the obstructive type and occurs when your brain is unable to properly send messages to the muscles responsible for breathing while you are asleep. As a result, you stop breathing for periods of time and can awaken feeling short of breath. Individuals with this type of apnea often have trouble falling asleep as well.
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