Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

A sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, causing fragmented sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep, leading to oxygen desaturation and sleep fragmentation. It affects approximately 25% of men and 10% of women. CPAP therapy is the gold standard treatment. Pharmacologic agents are primarily used to manage residual excessive daytime sleepiness.