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sleep apnea
noun
: apnea that recurs during sleep and is caused especially by obstruction of the airway or a disturbance in the brain's respiratory center
Examples of sleep apnea in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Participants were either obese or overweight and had an additional related health issue such as obstructive sleep apnea or heart disease.
—USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2024
Melissa, busy perfecting a batch of pesto, shrugs it off as sleep apnea, but after Caleb tells her there is no pulse, she’s forced to decide how to proceed.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2024
Hormonal shifts during menopause may increase the risk of sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea in women.
—Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2024
And not all cases of sleep apnea need to be treated.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1975, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near sleep apnea
Cite this Entry
“Sleep apnea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleep%20apnea. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
Medical Definition
sleep apnea
noun
: brief periods of recurrent cessation of breathing during sleep that is caused especially by obstruction of the airway or a disturbance in the brain's respiratory center and is associated especially with excessive daytime sleepiness
More from Merriam-Webster on sleep apnea
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sleep apnea
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