sleep apnea

noun

: 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 three most common causes of sleepiness or tiredness are insufficient sleep, insomnia and sleep apnea, Mundt said. —Julianna Bragg, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025

Michigan mom of boy who died in hyperbaric chamber explosion jumped into flames to rescue him: attorney James Harrington, attorney at Fieger Law, discusses the case of 5-year-old Thomas Cooper, who died in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber on Jan. 31 while receiving treatment for ADHD and sleep apnea. —Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 18 Feb. 2025

However, parents should consider seeking medical or psychiatric evaluation if: There are signs of another sleep disorder, such as sleepwalking or sleep apnea. —Arielle Tschinkel, Parents, 12 Feb. 2025

The fast-growing class of drugs has the potential to treat other conditions, such as sleep apnea and reduce the risk of stroke. —Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

sleep apnea

noun

: 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