Sleep apnea: What is it, what’s the cause and how to tackle it

A man sleeping on his back with his mouth open snoring.

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that causes abnormal breathing patterns as you sleep, like pauses in your breath. These interruptions can lead to fragmented sleep, excessive daytime fatigue, and if undiagnosed, it can cause serious long-term health issues.

There are two main types: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where the airway becomes blocked during sleep, and central sleep apnea (CSA), which occurs when the brain fails to send the right signals to the muscles that control breathing.