Sleep apnea is a serious and often misunderstood sleep disorder that can have a significant impact on your health and quality of life. If you or a loved one in the Encino area is experiencing symptoms like loud snoring, daytime fatigue, or gasping during the night, it's crucial to seek the care of a qualified sleep apnea specialist. What is Sleep Apnea? Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. These pauses, which can last for ten seconds or more, cause a drop in blood oxygen levels and force the brain to briefly wake up to restart breathing. This can happen dozens or even hundreds of times a night, preventing you from achieving the deep, restorative sleep your body needs. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where the muscles and soft tissues in the throat relax and collapse, blocking the airway. Central sleep apnea (CSA), a less common form, occurs when the brain fails to send the proper signals to the muscles that ...