Sleep Apnea is a common and clinically significant sleep disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of complete or partial cessation of breathing during sleep, which results in intermittent hypoxemia and severely fragmented sleep architecture. Clinically, this condition is a major driver of chronic fatigue, is strongly correlated with cardiovascular disease, and contributes significantly to metabolic and hormonal dysregulation. It is a critical public health concern.
Origin
The term is derived from the ancient Greek word apnoia, which literally translates to “without breath.” The modern clinical recognition and formal definition of the syndrome, particularly Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), occurred in the latter half of the 20th century as polysomnography became a standard diagnostic tool.
Mechanism
The most prevalent form, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, occurs when the pharyngeal muscles intermittently relax, causing a collapse and blockage of the upper airway during sleep. This repeated nocturnal oxygen desaturation triggers a powerful, cyclical stress response, including chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system and elevated cortisol release. This sustained mechanism drives systemic inflammation and significantly impairs the pulsatile secretion of growth hormone and the sensitivity to insulin.
We use cookies to personalize content and marketing, and to analyze our traffic. This helps us maintain the quality of our free resources. manage your preferences below.
Detailed Cookie Preferences
This helps support our free resources through personalized marketing efforts and promotions.
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website, improving user experience and website performance.
Personalization cookies enable us to customize the content and features of our site based on your interactions, offering a more tailored experience.