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sleep apnoea

British  

noun

  1. the temporary cessation of breathing during sleep, which in some cases is due to obstruction of the upper airway by enlarged tonsils, uvula, etc, causing the sufferer to snore loudly and fight for breath

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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She said sleep apnoea was "actually quite serious" as some patients can stop and start breathing around 100 times a night.

From BBC Jul. 15, 2026

Catherine Turnbull, from Chippenham, was diagnosed five years ago with sleep apnoea, a common but serious disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts.

From BBC Jul. 15, 2026

Since 2021, the company has been battling a series of crises over its DreamStation machines for sleep apnoea, a disorder in which breathing stops and starts during sleep.

From Barron's Feb. 10, 2026

The genetic condition can cause serious medical complications such as spinal cord compression, sleep apnoea, bowed legs, narrowing of the spinal canal and recurrent ear infections.

From Science Daily Nov. 18, 2024

Apart from its association with cancer, some genic variants of the Alex3 protein and its genic family are also related to neurodegenerative diseases -- especially Parkinson's -- , sleep apnoea and metabolic diseases.

From Science Daily Feb. 7, 2024

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