Sleep-Disordered Breathing
Sleep-disordered breathing broadly refers to a group of disorders characterized by abnormalities of breathing pattern (such as stopping breathing) or the abnormal reduction in the volume of breaths while sleeping. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep-disordered breathing.
An estimated 50 million people in the United States suffer from OSA. OSA occurs when the upper airway (near the back of the mouth) collapses during sleep, obstructing the airway, preventing air from entering the lungs. OSA is caused by multiple factors, including sleep-induced relaxation of the throat muscles and tongue, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, an abnormally small airway diameter in the back of the mouth and throat, and extra soft tissue in and around the throat due to being overweight.