Apnea意思

"Apnea" is a term derived from Greek, where "apnoia" means "without breath" or "breathless." It refers to a medical condition characterized by a pause in breathing, usually during sleep. There are two main types of apnea:

  1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): This is the most common type, where the airway becomes blocked during sleep, causing breathing to stop for short periods. OSA is often associated with snoring, daytime sleepiness, and other symptoms.

  2. Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): In this type, the brain fails to send the appropriate signals to the muscles that control breathing, leading to a pause in respiration. CSA can occur in people with heart failure, stroke, or brain injuries.

Both types of sleep apnea can disrupt sleep and lead to various health problems if left untreated. Treatment typically involves lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, avoiding alcohol before bedtime, and the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines for OSA, or medications and devices to help regulate breathing for CSA.