Apnea and hypopnea might look very similar simply because both are caused when the airway is obstructed, but the two conditions are not the same. Apnea simply means the cessation of breathing, usually caused by the total obstruction of the airway. The stoppage of breathing is usually for a short period of time, usually about 10 seconds or more.
However, in the event that a patient experiences a prolonged apnea, it can lead to brain death. On the other hand, hypopnea is also a condition similar to apnea, but it is characterized by an abnormally low respiratory rate or shallow breathing. This condition does not stop the supply of oxygen to the lung, as it is not caused by the total obstruction of the airway.
In the case of apnea, the airway experiences a total obstruction, which means there is no supply of oxygen during this period. Apnea occurs mostly when we sleep at night, and when it occurs, the brain alerts us by waking us up so that we can get enough oxygen. Hypopnea is not a severe condition as apnea.
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