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Sleep apnea refers to a temporary cessation of breathing during sleep, that usually repeats in a cycle. In children, common causes include tonsilitis and adenoiditis. In adults, the condition is often related to obesity, but it can also be caused by other disorders or structural defects in the throat. The most common type, Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), occurs where something physically obstructs the airway.
In many cases, the person is unaware of the condition except perhaps of their snoring. This is a potentially serious airway disorder where a person suffers repetitive difficulty breathing during sleep, and this lack of breathing causes complications. Sleep apnea causes serious complications such as hypertension and can be life-threatening. ...more »
Sleep apnea was cited by Reader's Digest as one of the top 10 misdiagnosed diseases. In the article entitled "10 Diseases Doctors Miss", the 10 diseases mentioned were hepatitis C, lupus, celiac disease, hemochromatosis, aneurysm, Lyme disease, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), chlamydia, and sleep apnea. gen footnote ...more misdiagnosis »
See full list of 29 symptoms of Sleep apnea
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Home medical testing related to Sleep apnea:
Read more about Deaths and Sleep apnea.
Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed in various sources as possibly beneficial for Sleep apnea may include:
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Rare types of Sleep apnea include:
Test for Sleep apnea in your own home
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See full list of 41 causes of Sleep apnea
More information about causes of Sleep apnea:
Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Sleep apnea:
Commonly undiagnosed diseases in related medical categories:
Mild worm infections undiagnosed in children: Human worm infestations, esp. threadworm, can be overlooked in some cases, because it may cause only mild or even absent...read more »
Mesenteric adenitis misdiagnosed as appendicitis in children: Because appendicitis is one of the more feared conditions for a child with abdominal pain...read more »
RLS sleep disorder causing night-time leg sensations often misdiagnosed: A common but relatively unknown sleep-related disorder called Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is often misdiagnosed. The...read more »
Blood pressure cuffs misdiagnose hypertension in children: One known misdiagnosis issue with hyperension, arises in relation to the simple equipment used to test blood pressure. The "cuff...read more »
Children with migraine often misdiagnosed: A migraine often fails to be correctly diagnosed in pediatric patients. These patients are not the typical migraine sufferers, but migraines can also occur in children. See ...read more »
Read more about Misdiagnosis and Sleep apnea
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Choosing the Best Hospital: More general information, not necessarily in relation to Sleep apnea, on hospital performance and surgical care quality:
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Medical research articles related to Sleep apnea include:
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Prognosis for Sleep apnea: The major determinants of surgical outcome include the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and obesity at the time of diagnosis.
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Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which breathing stops during sleep for 10 seconds or more, sometimes more than 300 times a night. The hallmark of the disorder is excessive daytime sleepiness and compromised quality of life, including significant social and emotional problems. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Sleep Apnea Information Page: NINDS)
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can cause a person to stop breathing for short periods during sleep and to snore heavily. Sleep apnea may cause daytime sleepiness and even heart failure. The risk for sleep apnea increases with higher body weights. Weight loss usually improves sleep apnea. (Source: excerpt from Obesity: NWHIC)
Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that is far more common than generally understood. First described in 1965, sleep apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. It owes its name to a Greek word, apnea, meaning"want of breath." (Source: excerpt from Sleep Apnea: NWHIC)
Apnea that occurs during sleep - (Source - WordNet 2.1)
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