What is Sleep apnea?

What is Sleep apnea?

• Sleep apnea: Childhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is characterized by episodic upper airway obstruction that occurs during sleep.
• Sleep apnea: apnea that occurs during sleep.
  Source - WordNet 2.1

Sleep apnea: Introduction

Types of Sleep apnea:

Types of Sleep apnea:

• Obstructive sleep apnea - cause by an airway obstruction or narrowing.
• Central sleep apnea - caused by a brain signalling failure.
• more types...»

Broader types of Sleep apnea:

• Sleep disorders
• Sleep disorder
• Under-diagnosed conditions
• more types...»

How many people get Sleep apnea?

Prevalance of Sleep apnea: estimated 18 million Americans (NHLBI)
Prevalance Rate of Sleep apnea: approx 1 in 15 or 6.62% or 18 million people in USA [about data]
Undiagnosed prevalence of Sleep apnea: estimated 2-4% of Americans undiagnosed
Undiagnosed prevalence rate of Sleep apnea: approx 1 in 50 or 2.00% or 5.4 million people in USA [about data]
Prevalance of Sleep apnea: It has been estimated that as many as 18 million Americans have sleep apnea. (Source: excerpt from Sleep Apnea: NWHIC)

Who gets Sleep apnea?

Profile for Sleep apnea: Sleep apnea occurs in all age groups and both sexes but is more common in men (it may be underdiagnosed in women) and possibly young African Americans. (Source: excerpt from Sleep Apnea: NWHIC)

Gender Profile for Sleep apnea: More common in men.

How serious is Sleep apnea?

Prognosis of Sleep apnea: The major determinants of surgical outcome include the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and obesity at the time of diagnosis.
Complications of Sleep apnea: see complications of Sleep apnea
Prognosis of Sleep apnea: Eliminating the obstruction usually reverses the commonly associated pulmonary and systemic hypertension and cardiac problems of obstructive apnea. Untreated, sleep apnea can greatly affect daytime functioning. Sleep apnea sufferers have a tendency to fall asleep during the day, a potentially deadly consequence of the disorder. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Sleep Apnea Information Page: NINDS)

What causes Sleep apnea?

Causes of Sleep apnea: see causes of Sleep apnea
Risk factors for Sleep apnea: see risk factors for Sleep apnea

What are the symptoms of Sleep apnea?

Symptoms of Sleep apnea: see symptoms of Sleep apnea

Complications of Sleep apnea: see complications of Sleep apnea

Onset of Sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea is observed in children of all ages and may develop even in infancy.

Can anyone else get Sleep apnea?

Inheritance: see inheritance of Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea: Testing

Diagnostic testing: see tests for Sleep apnea.

Misdiagnosis: see misdiagnosis and Sleep apnea.

How is it treated?

Treatments for Sleep apnea: see treatments for Sleep apnea
Research for Sleep apnea: see research for Sleep apnea

Society issues for Sleep apnea

Hospitalization statistics for Sleep apnea: The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Sleep apnea:

• 0.092% (11,714) of hospital consultant episodes were for sleep apnoea in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 98% of hospital consultant episodes for sleep apnoea required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 74% of hospital consultant episodes for sleep apnoea were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 26% of hospital consultant episodes for sleep apnoea were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 6% of hospital consultant episodes for sleep apnoea required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• more statistics...»

Organs Affected by Sleep apnea:

Organs and body systems related to Sleep apnea include:

• Sleep

Name and Aliases of Sleep apnea

Main name of condition: Sleep apnea

sleep apnoea, obstructive sleep apnea, OSA, childhood obstructive sleep apnea

Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Sleep apnea:

• Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
• OSA syndrome
• Pickwickian syndrome
• Obstructive hypoventilation
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• OSA
• Sleep-induced apnea
• Upper airway obstruction
• Oxygen desaturation
• Hypercarbia
• Autonomic stimulation
• Sleep fragmentation
• Disordered breathing during sleep
• Obstructive apnea

 » Next page: Online Medical Textbooks for Sleep apnea

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