sleep apnea

Sleep apnea, sleep apnoea or sleep apnœa is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. These episodes, called apneas (literally, "without breath"), each last long enough so one or more breaths are missed, and occur repeatedly throughout sleep. The standard definition of any apneic event includes a minimum 10 second interval between breaths, with either a neurological arousal (3-second or greater shift in EEG frequency, measured at C3, C4, O1, or O2), or a blood oxygen desaturation of 3-4 percent or greater, or both arousal and desaturation. Sleep apnea is diagnosed with an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram.
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Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing stops for more than ten seconds during sleep. [more]Sleep apnea - Community and Resources

Noun
1. apnea that occurs during sleep
(hypernym) apnea
(hyponym) sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS, infant death, crib death, cot death

Temporary stoppage of breathing during sleep, often resulting in daytime sleepiness.