Hypopnea

Hypopnea is a sleep and breathing disorder marked by overly shallow breathing or an abnormally low respiratory rate that reduces airflow to the lungs and can leave the blood short of oxygen. It most often results from partial obstruction of the upper airway, though some cases have neurological origins, and common contributing factors include anatomical airway defects, obesity, neuromuscular disease, sedative use, smoking and aging. People with hypopnea commonly experience excessive daytime sleepiness caused by interrupted sleep, along with loud snoring interspersed with choking sounds and pauses in breathing that can last twenty seconds or more. Additional effects can include depression, memory problems, mood changes, trouble concentrating and morning headaches. Although historically viewed as milder than complete apnea, research indicates hypopnea can have a similarly serious impact on sleep disorder outcomes, and it is diagnosed when airflow drops by at least 30 percent for ten seconds or more alongside a blood oxygen drop of 4 percent or greater.