Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a person to stop breathing repeatedly while they sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax too much to allow for proper breathing, while central sleep apnea (CSA) arises because of problems in how the brain communicates with the muscles responsible for breathing
. Risk factors for OSA include excess weight, medical conditions such as congestive heart failure and type 2 diabetes, smoking, and nasal congestion
. Risk factors for CSA include medical problems such as heart or kidney failure, stroke, or excess growth hormone production
