sleep apnea

noun

Definition of sleep apnea

: apnea that recurs during sleep and is caused especially by obstruction of the airway or a disturbance in the brain's respiratory center

Examples of sleep apnea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The devices are commonly used to treat sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep, which can increase the risk of heart problems and leave people dangerously drowsy during the day. — Emily Alpert Reyesstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2022 But anyone who snores consistently should talk to their doctor about obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when your throat muscles relax and block your airway, and requires medical treatment. — Angela Haupt, Washington Post, 20 May 2022 Schwartz asked Kilbane to sentence Walker to probation, citing health problems that include sleep apnea and diabetes. — Cory Shaffer, cleveland, 26 May 2022 The team used pneumotachography (often used to study sleep apnea and related disorders in humans) to monitor the airflow in five boa constrictors, fabricating small lightweight masks for the snakes out of plastic bottles. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Mar. 2022 They are mainly used to treat sleep apnea, a condition that causes a person to stop breathing for brief periods while asleep. — Denise Roland, WSJ, 25 Apr. 2022 There are also more tools to identify and treat insulin resistance and sleep apnea, as well as smoking cessation, which also affect heart health. — Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 13 Oct. 2021 Thirteen-year-old Elliot, who has Down syndrome, has dealt with obstructive sleep apnea for his entire life. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 24 Apr. 2022 Allergies can also be a risk factor for asthma, sleep apnea, sinusitis and more, experts say. — Annie Vainshtein, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Mar. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sleep apnea.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near sleep apnea

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sleep apnea

sleep around

Statistics for sleep apnea

Last Updated

6 Jul 2022

Cite this Entry

“Sleep apnea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleep%20apnea. Accessed 7 Jul. 2022.

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More Definitions for sleep apnea

sleep apnea

noun

Medical Definition of sleep apnea

: brief periods of recurrent cessation of breathing during sleep that is caused especially by obstruction of the airway or a disturbance in the brain's respiratory center and is associated especially with excessive daytime sleepiness