Sleep Apnea (Obstructive and Central) Glossary of Terms

1. Causes of Fatigue Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Sleep Quiz!
3. Foods That Help or Harm Your Sleep Slideshow Pictures

Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Airway: The path that air follows to get into and out of the lungs. The mouth and nose are...

Airway obstruction: Partial or complete blockage of the breathing passages to the lungs. C...

Ambient: Surrounding, present on all sides; encompassing. As, the ambient noise is deafeni...

Anatomy: The study of human or animal form, by observation or examination of the living be...

Anxiety: A feeling of apprehension and fear, characterized by physical symptoms such as pa...

Apnea: The absence of breathing (respiration).

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

Carbon dioxide: A gas which is the byproduct of cellular metabolism and which collects in ...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Co-morbid: Pertaining to two or more disorders simultaneously.

Congenital: A condition that is present at birth, whether or not it is inherited.

Congestion: An abnormal or excessive accumulation of a body fluid. The term is used broadl...

Continuous positive airway pressure: See: CPAP.

CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. CPAP is an effective treatment for obstructive ...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

ECG: Electrocardiogram.

EEG: Electroencephalogram.

Electrocardiogram: A recording of the electrical activity of the heart. Abbreviated ECG an...

Electroencephalogram: A technique for studying the electrical currents within the brain. E...

Essential: In medicine, of unknown cause, as in essential hypertension (high blood pressur...

Fatigue: A condition characterized by a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency ...

FDA: Food and Drug Administration.

Food and Drug Administration: An agency within the US Public Health Service that provides ...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Heart attack: The death of heart muscle due to the loss of blood supply. The loss of bloo...

Heart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ...

Heart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically...

Heart rate: The number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually per minute. The heart rate ...

High blood pressure: A repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg. Chro...

Hygiene: The science of preventive medicine and the preservation of health. Also commonly ...

Hypertension: High blood pressure, defined as a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceedi...

Hypopnea: Literally, underbreathing. Breathing that is shallower or slower than normal. Hy...

Hypoventilation: The state in which a reduced amount of air enters the alveoli in the lung...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Insomnia: The perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep due to a number ...

Jaw: The movable junction of the bones below the mouth (the mandible) and the bone just ab...

Limb: An arm or a leg.

Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon...

Medical history: 1. In clinical medicine, the patient's past and present which may ...

Memory: 1. The ability to recover information about past events or knowledge. ...

Modafinil: An oral drug first approved by the FDA in 1998 for the treatment of narcolepsy,...

Mouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con...

MPH: Master of public health, a degree designating successful training in analyzing past, ...

Nasal: Having to do with the nose.

Nasal septum: The dividing wall that runs down the middle of the nose, separating the two ...

Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

Neurologist: A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of th...

Neuromuscular: Pertaining to both nerves and muscles, as in neuromuscular blockade by an a...

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

Obesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight.

Objective: In a microscope, the objective (also called the objective lens) is the lens nea...

Obstruction: Blockage of a passageway. See, for example: Airway obstruction; Intestinal o...

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by brief ...

Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

Oxygenation: The addition of oxygen to any system, including the human body. Oxygenation m...

Palate: The roof of the mouth. The front portion is bony (hard palate), and the back porti...

Pharyngeal: Having to do with the pharynx (throat).

Pharynx: The hollow tube that is about 5 inches long and starts behind the nose and ends a...

Polysomnography: Continuous recording of specific physiologic variables during sleep. Poly...

Positive pressure ventilation: The provision of air under pressure by a mechanical respira...

Primary care: A patient's main source for regular medical care, ideally providing continui...

Pulmonary: Having to do with the lungs.

Pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries. This elevated blood...

Referral: The recommendation of a medical or paramedical professional. If you get a refer...

Remedy: Something that consistently helps treat or cure a disease.

Respiratory: Having to do with respiration.

Respiratory rate: The number of breaths per minute or, more formally, the number of moveme...

Rule out: Term used in medicine, meaning to eliminate or exclude something from considera...

Sedative: A drug that calms a patient, easing agitation and permitting sleep. Sedatives ge...

Septum: A dividing wall or enclosure. For example, the septum of the nose is the thin cart...

Sleep: The body's rest cycle.

Sleep apnea: The temporary stoppage of breathing during sleep, often resulting in daytime ...

Sleep hygiene: A series of practices and non-medical treatments for insomnia. Sleep hygien...

Snoring: A rough rattling noise made on inspiration during sleep by vibration of the soft ...

Soft palate: The muscular part of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is directly behin...

Stroke: The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood...

Surgeon: A physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity via operative or manual meth...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

Tongue: A strong muscle that is anchored to the floor of the mouth. The tongue is covered ...

Tonsils: Small masses of lymphoid tissue at the back and on both sides of the throat.

Trauma: A physical or emotional injury.

Trigger: Something that either sets off a disease in people who are genetically predispose...

Uvula: The anatomic structure that dangles downward at the back of the mouth and is attach...

Ventilation: The exchange of air between the lungs and the atmosphere so that oxygen can ...

Vocal cord: One of two small bands of muscle within the larynx. These muscles vibrate to ...

Weight loss: Weight loss is a decrease in body weight resulting from either voluntary (die...