People with sleep apnea stop breathing for 10 or more seconds at a time while they are sleeping. These short stops in breathing can happen up to 400 times every night! If you have sleep apnea, the periods of not breathing may arouse you from deep sleep. You may or may not wake up, but in either case you are not getting to the deeper levels of sleep that your body requires for good health.  If you are not getting to the deeper level of sleep, you aren't getting enough rest from your sleep.

There are basically two kinds of sleep apnea: obstructive apnea and central apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type. Nine out of ten people with sleep apnea have this type of apnea. If you have obstructive apnea, something is closing off the airway or windpipe (called the trachea) that brings air into your body. You keep trying to breathe, but you can't get enough air because of the blockage. Your windpipe might be blocked by your tongue, tonsils or uvula (the little piece of flesh that hangs down in the back of your throat). It might also be blocked by a large amount of fatty tissue in the throat or even by throat muscles that are too relaxed.

Central sleep apnea is rare. This type is called central apnea because it is related to the function of the central nervous system. If you have this type of apnea, the muscles you use to breathe don't get the "go-ahead" signal from your brain. Either the brain doesn't send the signal, or the signal gets interrupted. Central sleep apnea may not be corrected with the use of  dental appliances.

Normal

air flows freely
to lungs.
Brain rests.

Airway is open
 

Obstructive
Sleep Apnea

Airway collapses

Airflow is blocked

Brain is kept on
alert, unable to
effectively rest.