--- title: What is Sleep Apnea? What blocks your breathing at night? | Advanced Sleep Medicine Services, Inc. | The Sleep Experts® description: "Learn about the physical causes of sleep apnea and the three different types: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central (CSA), and mixed." --- **[![ASMS_logo_shadow_round](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ASMS_logo_shadow_round.png?width=200&name=ASMS_logo_shadow_round.png "ASMS_logo_shadow_round")](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/)** **Advanced Sleep Medicine Services, Inc.** The Sleep Experts`®` (877) 775-3377 # Sleep Apnea ## *What is it? * Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder defined as the cessation of breath during sleep. This leads to reduced oxygen flow and poor sleep quality.  When oxygen levels dip during sleep apnea, the brain signals the body to partially wake up. The person's sleep is disturbed and he is never allowed to sink into deep, restorative sleep stages. People with severe sleep apnea can go through this process hundreds of times each night. Often, people do not remember this happening and think that they have slept as normal. However, they wake up feeling exhausted, groggy, and unrested.  People suffering from sleep apnea deal with not only the negative effects of sleep deprivation, but also the strain of trying to cope with oxygen deprivation at night. This puts serious strain on the brain, the heart, and the rest of the body.  ## What physically happens during sleep apnea?  During obstructive sleep apnea--the most common form of sleep apnea--tissue in the back of the throat collapses into the airway, blocking the breath. This soft tissue includes the tongue, soft palate, tonsils, and adenoids. When you fall asleep, your throat muscles relax, which can cause the tissue to sag into your throat. When the airway is entirely blocked, an apnea occurs.  Read below to learn about the other types of sleep apnea.  - ![What an apnea looks like](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/what-happens-during-sleep-apnea_diagram-1.jpg "What an apnea looks like") - ![Upper airway diagram](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/hubfs/upper-airway-diagram.jpg "Upper airway diagram") ## Three Types of Sleep Apnea ![throat_icon](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/hs-fs/hubfs/throat_icon.png?width=102&name=throat_icon.png) #### Obstructive Sleep Apnea Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep apnea, affecting about 18 million Americans and accounting for about 80% of sleep apnea cases. It is caused by a physical obstruction of the airway during sleep when the tissue in the back of the throat collapses. This makes it difficult or impossible for the sleeper to breathe, which in turn causes a partial awakening and disrupted sleep This leads sufferers to snore loudly or make choking noises during sleep. In other words, people with OSA have a "mechanical" problem with the tissue in their mouth and throat blocking the passage of air. ![brain_icon](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/hs-fs/hubfs/brain_icon.png?width=102&name=brain_icon.png) #### Central Sleep Apnea Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) occurs when the brain fails to signal the body to breathe. CSA is a neurological problem. Patients with this condition are physically able to breathe, except their brain is not telling them to do so. This causes carbon dioxide to build up in the body and oxygen levels to dip. Oftentimes (but not always), CSA is associated with other serious medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, kidney failure, or neurological diseases like Parkinson's disease.  ![throat_and_brain_icon](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/hs-fs/hubfs/throat_and_brain_icon.png?width=102&name=throat_and_brain_icon.png) #### Mixed Sleep Apnea  "Mixed" or "complex" sleep apnea is a combination of obstructive sleep apnea (anatomical) and central sleep apnea (neurological). It can be explained as a central event that turns into an obstructive event.  **Contact Us:** Advanced Sleep Medicine Services, Inc. Corporate Office 17835 Ventura Blvd. Suite 300 Encino, CA 91316 Phone (877) 775-3377 Fax (877) 855-6227  [info@sleepdr.com](mailto:info@sleepdr.com) ## **Top Links:** [Frequently asked questions (FAQs) ](http://www.sleepdr.com/frequently-asked-questions)[Download Service Request Form (Rx) ](http://www.sleepdr.com/service_request_form)[Request medical records ](http://www.sleepdr.com/request-medical-records)[See a complete list of locations ](http://www.sleepdr.com/locations)[Schedule an appointment ](http://www.sleepdr.com/schedule)[Sleep Better, Live Better Blog ](http://www.sleepdr.com/sleepbetterblog)[Contact us](http://www.sleepdr.com/contact) **About Us:** Our mission is to empower sufferers of sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, to lead more fulfilling lives by improving their sleep. We believe that by caring for and educating our patients and diagnosing and treating their sleep disorders we can help them achieve better health. With 20 locations across California, we are the leading provider of in-center and in-home (HST) sleep studies, PAP therapeutic devices, and replacement PAP supplies. We are contracted with more than 300 medical groups and commercial health plans. We partner with independent physicians who are at the forefront of the field of sleep medicine and together we provide high-quality, affordable, result-oriented and patient-centric diagnostic and therapeutic sleep medicine services. We strive to make all our interactions with patients, referring physicians, coworkers, and others courteous, caring and professional and we consider each interaction with our patients as an opportunity to live up to our commitment to the highest standards of patient care.  ### Subscribe to our blog: [![Twitter link](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/hubfs/twitter-865437-edited.png "Twitter link")](https://twitter.com/mysleepdr)[![Facebook link](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/hubfs/facebook-square-750598-edited.png "Facebook link")](https://www.facebook.com/AdvancedSleepMedicine)[![LinkedIn link](https://299691.hs-sites-na2.com/hubfs/linkedin-815276-edited.png "LinkedIn link")](https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-sleep-medicine-services-inc) ## Original photos by Francisco Crow [www.fc-images.net](http://www.fc-images.net) All rights reserved. Our administrative offices AND sleep centers will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2016 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.