Sleep apnea is merely a period where the patient stops breathing during sleep.
To be diagnosed, the episode must last longer than 10 seconds with a minimum of 5 times per hour. But true sleep apnea patients can have an amazing number of these per hour all night long. The periods can also last longer than a minute to a minute and a half in some individuals. Like the causes of snoring, the most common type of sleep disordered breathing is caused by obstructive sleep apnea, where the tongue or soft palate collapse together enough to close the airway. When you wake up, even lightly, the airway opens again.