sleep apnea n brief periods of recurrent cessation of breathing during sleep that is caused esp. by obstruction of the airway or a disturbance in the brain's respiratory center and is associated esp. with excessive daytime sleepiness
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transient periods of cessation of breathing during sleep. It may result in hypoxemia and vasoconstriction of pulmonary arterioles, producing pulmonary arterial hypertension. The two primary types are central sleep a. and obstructive sleep a.Medical dictionary. 2011.