sleep apnea

[sleep ap-nee-uh]

noun

Pathology.

1. a condition in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep due to blockage of the upper airway, causing frequent momentary or partial waking: often a result of obesity or neurological impairment and typically associated with sleepiness during the day.

sleep apnea

1. Apnea caused by upper airway obstruction during sleep, associated with frequent awakening and often with daytime sleepiness. It occurs most often in people who are obese or who have an obstructed respiratory tract or neurological abnormalities.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sleep apnea¹

First recorded in 1975–80