Sleep Apnea

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is also often known as episodes of paused breathing while sleeping. It affects airflow to the nose and mouth. Episodes that last for 10 seconds or longer are defined as sleep apnea. Individuals may experience episodes of 2-3 minutes long in more severe cases.

It can be due to anatomic abnormalities (abnormalities in or with the body) that interfere with the airflow. It may also be due to positional abnormalities during sleep or central apnea, in which the part of the brain which regulates the frequency of breathing malfunctions.

Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom affects can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.

The brain is the central organ of the nervous system, a system that includes not only the brain but also the sensory organs of the body, the spinal cords, and the nerves that connect them all. The nervous system is how the different parts of the body communicate with each other and control their responses to both internal and external stimuli.

Generally, symptoms affecting the brain can not be seen with the naked eye. Although diagnosing a brain-related symptom may involve different tests and assessments, both subjective and objective.

Symptoms relating to the brain may affect other parts of the body and development, including intellectual ability as well as the ability to move, speak, and other crucial bodily functions.

What should I do next?

In some instances, sleep apnea may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Sleep Apnea, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist. Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis. FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.

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Synonyms:
Sleep apnoea, Pauses in breathing while sleeping
Related syndromes:

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