Snoring
Medical Author:
Kathryn L Shanks, MD
Coauthor:
G Richard Braen, MD, FACEP
Medical Editor:
Steven C Gabaeff, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editor:
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD
Medical Editor:
Thomas Rebbecchi, MD, FAAEM
Snoring OverviewSnoring is the noise produced during sleep by vibrations of the soft tissues at the back of your nose and throat. The noise is created by turbulent flow of air through narrowed air passages. In general and in most cases, snoring has no medical significance unless it keeps you or others from sleeping. However, a more serious problem related to snoring can occur when those same soft tissues block the air passages at the back of the throat while you are sleeping. This interferes with the ability to breathe. This condition is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and it can directly affect your health. |
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Snoring
Sleep Apnea (Obstructive and Central) »
Sleep Apnea Overview
Sleep apnea is a common condition characterized by a periodic reduction in or a complete stop of breathing during sleep. There are two main types of sleep apnea; obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA). Mixed sleep apnea refers to the combination of both central and obstructive sleep apnea.
Apnea is defined as a cessation or near-cessation of breathing for 10 seconds or more that results in a reduction of airflow to 25% below normal. A less severe reduction in breathing is called hypopnea.
The basic underlying mechanism is different for the types of sleep apnea. Normally, the brain sends a signal to the respiratory muscles to expand and bring air into the lungs. In central sleep apnea, the brain fails to send this signal appropriately, causing disrupted and unregulated breathing. In obstructive sleep apnea, the brain sends appropriate signals and the muscles try to expand to initiate breathing, ...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape
Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Surgery »
Snoring, excessive daytime somnolence, restless sleep, and apnea are manifestations of sleep-disordered breathing, which has plagued society for centuries.
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