1. Apnea - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia apnea, apnoea, or apnœa (Greek , from , privative, , to breathe) is a technical term for suspension of external breathing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apnea

Apnea From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation search This article is about the technical term for suspension of external breathing. For the nude model, see Apnea (model) Symptom Sign Apnea Classifications and external resources ICD ICD Apnea apnoea , or apnœa Greek , from α-, privative , πνεειν, to breathe) is a technical term for suspension of external breathing . During apnea there is no movement of the muscles of respiration and the volume of the lungs initially remains unchanged. Depending on the patency (openness) of the airways there may or may not be a flow of gas between the lungs and the environment; gas exchange within the lungs and cellular respiration is not affected. Apnea can be voluntarily achieved (e.g., " holding one's breath drug -induced (e.g., opiate toxicity), mechanically induced (e.g., strangulation ), or it can occur as a consequence of neurological disease or trauma Contents Mechanism Hyperventilation Apneic oxygenation Apnea test ... edit Mechanism Under normal conditions, humans cannot store much oxygen in the body. Prolonged apnea leads to severe lack of oxygen in the

2. Apnea Everyone has brief pauses in breathing called apnea even your child. Usually these brief stops in breathing are completely normal. http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/apnea.html

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3. Apnea Of Prematurity Once a baby is born, he or she needs to breathe continuously to get oxygen. In a premature baby, the part of the central nervous system (brain and spinal http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/medical_problems/aop.html

var fo = new FlashObject("/image/parentnav/intheNEWS_button.swf", "pl1", "153", "43", "5", ""); fo.addParam("QUALITY", "High"); fo.write("parent_left_flash_1"); var fo = new FlashObject("/updates/P_squarebanner.swf", "pl2", "153", "126", "5", ""); fo.addParam("QUALITY", "High"); fo.write("parent_left_flash_2"); var fo = new FlashObject("/image/parentnav/whatsNew_squarebanner.swf", "pl3", "153", "108", "5", ""); fo.addParam("QUALITY", "High"); fo.write("parent_left_flash_3"); var fo = new FlashObject("/image/parentnav/temp_banner.swf", "pl4", "153", "108", "5", ""); fo.addParam("QUALITY", "High"); fo.write("parent_left_flash_4"); KidsHealth Parents Once a baby is born, he or she needs to breathe continuously to get oxygen. In a premature baby , the part of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) that controls breathing is not yet mature enough to allow nonstop breathing. This causes large bursts of breath followed by periods of shallow breathing or stopped breathing. The medical term for this condition is apnea of prematurity, or AOP. Apnea of prematurity is fairly common in preemies. Doctors usually diagnose the condition before the mother and baby are discharged from the hospital, and the apnea usually goes away on its own as the infant matures. Once apnea of prematurity goes away, it does not come back. But there's no doubt about it - it's frightening while it's happening.

4. Apneatic.com apneatic splash page. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ACCESS 1. You are at least 1821 years of age or older. Legal age for viewing adult content varies with state http://www.apneatic.com/

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5. Sleep Apnea Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, And Treatment On WebMD.com Read about sleep apnea (obstructive and central) symptoms including sleepiness during the day, decreased interest in sex, headaches, forgetfulness, http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/sleep-apnea

var s_furl = "/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/sleep-apnea"; var image_server_url = "http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live"; var priTopId = "1836"; var secTopId = ""; document.write(wmd_today); Bookmark This Page Site Map Sign up for WebMD Newsletters WebMD Home ... Pill Identifier document.write(''); Women's Health Home Balance Fitness Parenting ... Pregnancy document.write(''); Men's Health Home Balance Fitness Parenting document.write(''); Children's Health Home Fitness Parenting Pregnancy ... Sleep Apnea Health Center Email a Friend Print Article Sleep Apnea Health Center Font Size A A A Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times. There are two types of sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): The more common of the two forms of apnea, it is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep. Central sleep apnea: Unlike OSA, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe due to instability in the respiratory control center.

6. Sleep Apnea - Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment Of Central And Obstructive Sleep A Could Your Snoring Be A Sign of Sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a disorder affecting about 18 million Americans that has the potential for serious, http://www.medicinenet.com/sleep_apnea/article.htm

About Us Site Map May 28, 2008 home sleep center sleep a-z list sleep apnea index > sleep apnea article Font Size A A A Sleep Apnea Index ... Glossary Sleep Apnea Medical Author: Andrew Verneuil MD Medical Editor: Jay W. Marks, MD What is sleep apnea? What are the types of sleep apnea? What is central sleep apnea and what causes it? ... Sleep Apnea At A Glance Related Sleep Apnea articles: Sleep Apnea - on WebMD Snoring - on eMedicineHealth Sleep Apnea Symptoms and Warning Signs Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Medical Editor: Barbara K. Hecht, Ph.D. Sleep apnea is a disorder affecting about 18 million Americans that has the potential for serious, and even fatal complications. Persons with sleep apnea actually stop breathing for brief periods of time (usually 10-20 seconds) while asleep. The pauses in breathing can be very frequent and occur 30 times or more per hour. The most common kind of sleep apnea is termed obstructive sleep apnea, and a less common form of sleep apnea is central sleep apnea. Sleep apnea often results in feelings of fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness , since the ability to reach deep, restorative sleep stages is impaired. Other warning signs of sleep apnea are often noticed by bed partners and include loud

7. American Sleep Apnea Association Information on reducing injury, disability, and death from sleep apnea. http://www.sleepapnea.org/

Enhancing the lives of those with sleep apnea Special Notices Check Your Snore Score! Publications on Hospital CPAP Use with a Checklist of issues about CPAP while hospitalized. Support ASAA when you buy books! Support Sleep Apnea Research! with a multicolor wristband to raise money for sleep apnea research. Sleep Apnea Forum connecting people with information on sleep apnea. CPAP Troubleshooting Guide Travelling by airplane? Your CPAP should be a carry-on item. Do you think you have sleep apnea? Click here The ASAA is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing injury, disability, and death from sleep apnea and to enhancing the well-being of those affected by this common disorder. Combined Federal Campaign American Sleep Apnea Association 1424 K Street NW, Suite 302, Washington, DC 20005 phone: 202/293-3650 fax: 202/293-3656

8. Sleep Apnea, What Is Sleep apnea is a common disorder that can be very serious. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/SleepApnea/SleepApnea_WhatIs.html

DCI Home Sleep Disorders Sleep Apnea : What Is ... What Is ... Other Names Causes Who Is At Risk ... Links What Is Sleep Apnea? Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They often occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour. Typically, normal breathing then starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound. Sleep apnea usually is a chronic (ongoing) condition that disrupts your sleep 3 or more nights each week. You often move out of deep sleep and into light sleep when your breathing pauses or becomes shallow. This results in poor sleep quality that makes you tired during the day. Sleep apnea is one of the leading causes of excessive daytime sleepiness. Overview Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed. Doctors usually can't detect the condition during routine office visits. Also, there are no blood tests for the condition. Most people who have sleep apnea don't know they have it because it only occurs during sleep. A family member and/or bed partner may first notice the signs of sleep apnea.

9. Sleep Apnea The most common kind of sleep apnea is called Obstructive Sleep apnea Syndrome. Sleep apnea means cessation of breath. It is characterized by repetitive http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/apnea.html

Updated March 10, 1999 Resources Sleep Apnea Articles UPPP Surgery LAUP Surgery ... A Doctor with Sleep Apnea reviews recent research for fellow patients What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea? The most common kind of sleep apnea is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. Sleep apnea means "cessation of breath." It is characterized by repetitive episodes of upper airway obstruction that occur during sleep, usually associated with a reduction in blood oxygen saturation. In other words, the airway becomes obstructed at several possible sites. The upper airway can be obstructed by excess tissue in the airway, large tonsils, a large tongue and usually includes the airway muscles relaxing and collapsing when asleep. Another site of obstruction can be the nasal passages. Sometimes the structure of the jaw and airway can be a factor in sleep apnea. What are the symptoms? excessive daytime sleepiness frequent episodes of obstructed breathing during sleep. (The patient may be unaware of this symptom usually the bed partner is extremely aware of this). Associated features may include: loud snoring morning headaches unrefreshing sleep a dry mouth upon awakening chest retraction during sleep in young children (chest pulls in) high blood pressure overweight irritability change in personality depression difficulty concentrating excessive perspiring during sleep heartburn reduced libido insomnia frequent nocturnal urination (nocturia) restless sleep nocturnal snorting, gasping, choking (may wake self up)

10. Sleep Apnea: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis And Treatment Noncommercial guide to sleep apnea symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment. Includes tips to help you use CPAP devices more comfortably and successfully. http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleep_apnea.htm

Related Articles Understanding Sleep Sleep Tips Snoring Sleep Medications ... Narcolepsy Topics Alzheimer's / Dementia Anxiety Bipolar / Schizophrenia Challenges of Aging ... Stress and Trauma Rate This Article: 5 - Extremely Helpful 4 - Very Helpful 3 - Helpful 2 - A Little Helpful 1 - Not Helpful at All Home News Blog About Us ... Topics A-Z www.Helpguide.org This site is for information and support; not a substitute for professional advice. Sleep Apnea: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment Sleep apnea, a disruption of breathing while asleep, is a particularly tricky sleep disorder - 90% of people who have sleep apnea don't know that they have it! Although episodes of choking or gasping for air might occur hundreds of times throughout the night, you may not have any recollection of struggling for breath. Usually it is the bed partner who first notices that the person is struggling to breathe. If left untreated, this common disorder can be life-threatening. In This Article: Types of sleep apnea Causes of obstructive sleep apnea Effects of sleep apnea on health Diagnosing sleep apnea ... Related links Print Authors Text Size Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea Warning signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include: Frequent cessation of breathing (apnea) during sleep.

11. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Sleep Apnea Older obese men seem to be at higher risk, though as many as 40% of people with obstructive sleep apnea are not obese. Nasal obstruction, a large tongue, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000811.htm

@import url(/medlineplus/images/advanced.css); Skip navigation Medical Encyclopedia Other encyclopedia topics: A-Ag Ah-Ap Aq-Az B-Bk ... Z Sleep apnea Contents of this page: Illustrations Alternative Names Definition Causes ... Prevention Illustrations Obstructive sleep apnea Alternative Names Return to top Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; Apnea - sleep apnea syndrome Definition Return to top Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by episodes of stopped breathing during sleep. See also: Sleep disorders Causes Return to top In normal conditions, the muscles of the upper part of the throat keep this passage open to allow air to flow into the lungs. These muscles usually relax during sleep, but the passage remains open enough to permit the flow of air. Some individuals have a narrower passage, and during sleep, relaxation of these muscles causes the passage to close, and air cannot get into the lungs. Loud snoring and labored breathing occur. When complete blockage of the airway occurs, air cannot reach the lungs. For reasons that are still unclear, in deep sleep, breathing can stop for a period of time (often more than 10 seconds). These periods of lack of breathing, or apneas, are followed by sudden attempts to breathe. These attempts are accompanied by a change to a lighter stage of sleep. The result is fragmented sleep that is not restful, leading to excessive daytime drowsiness Older obese men seem to be at higher risk, though as many as 40% of people with obstructive sleep apnea are not obese. Nasal obstruction, a large tongue, a narrow airway and certain shapes of the palate and jaw seem also to increase the risk. A large neck or collar size is strongly associated with obstructive sleep apnea. Ingestion of alcohol or sedatives before sleep may predispose to episodes of apnea.

12. Sleep Apnea -- Familydoctor.org Information about sleep apnea from the American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/212.xml

Advertisement Advanced Search familydoctor.org Home Sleep Apnea What is sleep apnea? Is sleep apnea common? How do I know if I have sleep apnea? Is sleep apnea dangerous? ... Will this problem change my life? See Also: Other Organizations Advertisement Sleep Apnea Printer-friendly version Email this page Make text bigger What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea can be a serious sleep disorder. People who have sleep apnea stop breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time while they are sleeping. These short stops in breathing can happen up to 400 times every night. If you have sleep apnea, the periods of not breathing may make you wake up from deep sleep. If you are waking up all night long, you aren't getting enough rest from your sleep. There are 2 kinds of sleep apnea: obstructive apnea and central apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type. Nine out of 10 people with sleep apnea have this type of apnea. If you have obstructive apnea, something is blocking the passage or windpipe (called the trachea) that brings air into your body. When you try to breathe, you can't get enough air because of the blockage. Your windpipe might be blocked by your tongue, tonsils or uvula (the little piece of flesh that hangs down in the back of your throat). It might also be blocked by a large amount of fatty tissue in the throat or even by relaxed throat muscles. Central sleep apnea is rare. This type of sleep apnea is related to the function of the central nervous system. If you have this type of apnea, the muscles you use to breathe don't get the "go-ahead" signal from your brain. Either the brain doesn't send the signal, or the signal gets interrupted.

13. Sleep Apnea: Treatment - MayoClinic.com Sleep apnea — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes, treatment of central and obstructive sleep apnea. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sleep-apnea/DS00148/DSECTION=8

Medical Services Health Information Appointments Education and Research ... About Sleep apnea ARTICLE SECTIONS Introduction Signs and symptoms Causes Risk factors ... Self-care Treatment CLICK TO ENLARGE Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) For milder cases of sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes such as losing weight or quitting smoking. If these measures don't improve your signs and symptoms or if your apnea is moderate to severe, a number of other treatments are available. Certain devices can help open up a blocked airway. In other cases, surgery may be necessary. Treatments for obstructive sleep apnea may include: Therapies Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). If you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, you may benefit from a machine that delivers air pressure through a mask placed over your nose while you sleep. With CPAP (SEE-pap), the air pressure is somewhat greater than that of the surrounding air, and is just enough to keep your upper airway passages open, preventing apnea and snoring. Although CPAP is a preferred method of treating sleep apnea, some people find it cumbersome or uncomfortable. With some practice, most people learn to adjust the tension of the straps to obtain a comfortable and secure fit. You may need to try more than one type of mask to find one that's comfortable. Some people also benefit from using a humidifier along with their CPAP system.

14. A.P.N.E.A. Network Welcome Page Sleep apnea patient help, news, and information source. http://www.apneanet.org/

The A pnea P atient's N ews, E A wareness Net work WELCOME TO A.P.N.E.A. NET This page last updated on Our Table of Contents What's New on This Site! Our Bookstore! IMPORTANT NOTICE The former A.P.N.E.A. NET Forum was closed some time ago due to system problems and the lack of a host for that service. It will NOT be re-opened on this site, but there is now an excellent alternative! There is a new message board sponsored by the American Sleep Apnea Association at www.apneasupport.org . I'll try to be there myself as often as I can, using the nickname of "apneanet". Please visit ApneaSupport to post your questions and to participate in the conversations there. I know you'll find it helpful and interesting! Suggested other message boards to review are: CPAPtalk SleepNet TalkAboutSleep If anyone has a question, please feel free to email webmaster@apneanet.org and I will do my best to answer it for you. A.P.N.E.A. NET , for short. Our Goals for this site: Our goal is to make this an engaging, interesting, and informative site for information about

15. MySpace.com - Apnea - 22 - Female - Houston, Texas - Www.myspace.com/apneatic MySpace profile for apnea with pictures, videos, personal blog, interests, information about me and more. http://www.myspace.com/apneatic

var disableMSPLinks=1; User Shortcuts: Send Message Forward to Friend Add to Friends Add to Favorites Block User Add to Group Rank User Instant Message View User Pics View User Bulletins People MySpace Web Music Video Home Browse Search Invite ... Classifieds Apnea "apneatic.com" Female 22 years old Houston, Texas United States Last Login: 5/27/2008 View My: Pics Videos Contacting Apnea MySpace URL: http://www.myspace.com/apneatic siteURL = "http://www.myspace.com/" Apnea's Interests Apnea's Details Status: In a Relationship Here for: Networking, Friends Hometown: www.apneatic.com Body type: 5' 2" / Average Ethnicity: White / Caucasian Zodiac Sign: Leo Apnea is in your extended network. Apnea's Latest Blog Entry Subscribe to this Blog an evening with apnea view more FREE LP PARTY SAN DIEGO! view more More photos view more Ebay Auctions! view more Happy New Year! view more View All Blog Entries Apnea's Blurbs About me: Who I'd like to meet: Apnea's Friend Space (Top 24) Apnea has friends.

16. Sleep Apnea Information Page: National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And S Sleep apnea information sheet compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/sleep_apnea/sleep_apnea.htm

Plain Text Version Skip Menus National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institutes of Health Home About NINDS Disorders - You are in this section Funding News and Events Find People Training Search this site: Search You are here: Home Disorders Sleep Apnea NINDS Sleep Apnea Information Page Skip secondary menu Sleep Apnea Information Page Publications Organizations Clinical Trials News ... My Privacy NINDS is part of the National Institutes of Health Print-friendly version Email this page Table of Contents (click to jump to sections) What is Sleep Apnea? Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? ... Additional resources from MEDLINEplus What is Sleep Apnea? Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct research related to sleep apnea in laboratories at the NIH, and also support additional research through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Much of this research focuses on finding better ways to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea. Select this link to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.

17. Sleep Apnea Support Forum Index Sección dedicada a preguntas y discusión en general de cualquier tema relacionado a apnea DEL SUEÑO. No es necesario registrarse para hacer preguntas o http://www.apneasupport.org/

DONATE TO THE ASAA Register I Forgot My Password Search ... View unanswered posts Sleep Apnea News News Ticker Live Search: sleep apnea site:msnbc.msn.com Sleep Apnea Poses Serious Health Risks - KNDU-TV- msnbc.com Teens with sleep apnea at risk for heart disease - Sleep- msnbc.com Hyper kid? Sleep apnea may be the culprit - Kids and parenting- msnbc ... ... Do you think I'm sexy? Apnea aid raises doubts - Behavior - MSNBC.com News Items Apr 12 2008 Curious about the new ASAA Educational video? May 06 2007 Read ASAA Executive Director's blog Mar 08 2006 Equipment Pricing Guide Jan 09 2006 Live Chat! Evenings at 8:00pm EST Live Apnea Chat There is one User in Chat. Chat Users: Username: Password: I forgot my password SLEEP APNEA FAQ Diagnosing Sleep Apnea Starting CPAP Therapy ... Recent Posts The Last '20' Topics RE: First week on machine - questions? RE: Recovery from UPPP Surgery RE: Have sleep apnea and had surgery RE: Sleepweaver Mask ... Sleep Apnea Resources Sleep Apnea Support Forum Forum Topics Posts Last Post SLEEP APNEA HELP! This area is for Sleep Apnea questions and general Sleep Apnea Discussions. Moderators Vicki Mike Okie Wed May 28, 2008 3:06 pm

18. Apnea Mania Discover information on the sport, records, profiles of individual divers and photos. http://www.apneamania.com/

Home World Records World Ranking Apnea Divers ... Greece 06 What is it that attracts people to master the world of water? One thing is that there is so much of it. Can it be done ? Freediving is a way to visit this fantastic environment with nothing but a deep breath of air. There are in fact people who have been down to more than 183 meters (600 feet) and have been under the surface for over 9 minutes . What we want to do is try to in form about what freediving is and how to go about it safely. There are risks evolved that you should be aware of. We also present the current records and recordholders which we update frequently. Here you can find out who all the good freedivers are, and very good TRAINING TIPS from some of them. Freediving Freediving, originally referred to as skin-diving, is in essence how you unite yourself with the world under the surface. The only thing you need to practice this sport is a breath of air but, of course, most people use a mask with snorkel and fins. Read more What is freediving? A little bit about the physiology of freediving.

19. EMedicine - Obstructive Sleep Apnea : Article By Ralph Downey, III Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs in persons of all age groups, across all ethnicities, and of both sexes. OSA is an. http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic163.htm

Home Specialties Reference Centers All Sources eMedicine Medscape Drug Reference MEDLINE var jsRCName = ''; var jsRCPage = ''; Quick Find Introduction Clinical Differentials Workup ... References Related Articles Asthma Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Depression Hypothyroidism ... Sleep Disorders Patient Education Ear, Nose, and Throat Center Sleep Disorders Center Snoring Overview Snoring Causes ... Email to a colleague You are in: eMedicine Specialties Pulmonology Sleep-Related Disorders Obstructive Sleep Apnea Article Last Updated: Jun 27, 2006 AUTHOR AND EDITOR INFORMATION Section 1 of 11 Authors and Editors Introduction Clinical Differentials ... Author: Ralph Downey III, PhD, DABSM, Associate Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Neurology, Loma University School of Medicine; Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of California at Riverside; Chief, Sleep Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center and the Loma Linda University Children's Hospital Ralph Downey, III, is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Sleep Medicine Coauthor(s): Philip M Gold, MD, MACP

20. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - Sleepdisorderchannel Complete patient education about obstructive sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder, including overview, risk factors, treatment and more. http://www.sleepdisorderchannel.com/osa/index.shtml

Home Search SiteMap Contact Us ... email this var addthis_pub = 'healthcommunities.com'; Stay Updated: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Overview, Causes, Risk Factors Physician developed and monitored. Original source: www.sleepdisorderchannel.com Original Date of Publication: 01 Dec 2000 Reviewed by: Under Construction Home Obstructive Sleep Apnea Overview, Causes, Risk Factors Overview Sleep apnea is a disorder that commonly affects more than 12 million people in the United States. It takes its name from the Greek word apnea, which means "without breath." People with sleep apnea literally stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, often for a minute or longer and as many as hundreds of times during a single night. Causes The exact cause of OSA remains unclear. The site of obstruction in most patients is the soft palate, extending to the region at the base of the tongue. There are no rigid structures, such as cartilage or bone, in this area to hold the airway open. During the day, muscles in the region keep the passage wide open. But as a person with OSA falls asleep, these muscles relax to a point where the airway collapses and becomes obstructed. When the airway closes, breathing stops, and the sleeper awakens to open the airway. The arousal from sleep usually lasts only a few seconds, but brief arousals disrupt continuous sleep and prevent the person from reaching the deep stages of slumber, such as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which the body needs in order to rest and replenish its strength. Once normal breathing is restored, the person falls asleep only to repeat the cycle throughout the night.

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