This woman was also having an apnea stoppage of breathing several times a night. Boehlecke could see them as dips in the waves that measure air flowing out of the nose and mouth. Obstructive apnea occurs because of a collapse of the airway just above the windpipe, Boehlecke says. This blockage can be caused in part by swollen nasal passages from allergies, large tonsils, or a short, wide neck with a narrow airway. Sufferers may stop breathing as many as 120 times per hour, and each time usually wake up, if only for a few seconds.
Sleep apnea seems to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
But the exact amount of risk it contributes is unknown, since many apnea sufferers are overweight or have other medical conditions. Someone with obstructive apnea can improve dramatically by sleeping with a special mask over his or her nose. The mask is attached to a pump that continuously blows air to maintain pressure to keep the airway open. Another option is surgery to widen the upper airway. Many people report dramatic improvements in their alertness after treatment they hadn t realized they were fatigued.