Tags: Disease.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea and is caused by obstruction of the upper airway. It is characterized by repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep despite the effort to breathe and is usually associated with a reduction in blood oxygen saturation. These pauses in breathing called apneas (literally without breath) typically last 20 to 40 seconds.The individual with OSA is rarely aware of having difficulty breathing even upon awakening.
