Mental Disorder

Apnea, apnoea, is a technical term for suspension of external breathing. During apnea there is no movement of the muscles of respiration and the volume of the lungs initially remains unchanged. Depending on the patency (openness) of the airways there may or may not be a flow of gas between the lungs and the environment; gas exchange within the lungs and cellular respiration is not affected. Apnea can be voluntarily achieved (e.g., “holding one’s breath”), drug-induced (e.g., opiate toxicity), mechanically induced (e.g., strangulation or choking), or it can occur as a consequence of neurological disease or trauma.

Everyone has brief pauses in their breathing pattern called apnea. Usually these brief stops are completely normal.

Sometimes, though, apnea can cause a prolonged pause in breathing, making the breathing pattern irregular. Someone with apnea might actually stop breathing for short amounts of time, decreasing oxygen levels in the body and disrupting sleep.
Types of Apnea

The word apnea comes from the Greek word meaning “without wind.” Although it’s perfectly normal for everyone to experience occasional pauses in breathing, apnea can be a problem when breathing stops for 20 seconds or longer.

Sleep Disorders
Apnea, breathing patter, external breathing