# Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder of repeated breathing pauses or shallow breaths (apneas and hypopneas) during sleep. The most common form is obstructive sleep apnea, from your upper airway collapsing. Less often, it is central sleep apnea, from a disrupted breathing drive. The AASM diagnoses it at an apnea-hypopnea index of at least 5 per hour with symptoms, or at least 15 without. Left untreated, it raises your risk of high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline, and all-cause death.

## Sources

- Yaggi HK, Concato J, Kernan WN et al.. (2005). Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Risk Factor for Stroke and Death. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa043104

---

_Canonical: https://longevity-switzerland.com/en/glossary/sleep-apnea · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-06-22_