To be counted as an apnea, the breathing must stop for a minimum of ten seconds. On average apneas are 20-40 seconds in length.
Sleep apnea can have detrimental effects on both sleep and daytime functioning.
Some even report having insomnia. Most people who suffer from apnea are unaware of what is causing their problem. Most patients come to a sleep lab because of a concerned bed partner whose sleep is often disturbed as a result of loud snoring. The bed partner is a very valuable source of information and often observes that the person stops breathing. There are further complications that can be caused by sleep apnea.