Which type of sleep apnea is locally obstructed often due to obesity?

Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by repeated episodes of complete or partial blockage of the upper airway during sleep, which leads to disrupted breathing. This condition is commonly associated with obesity, as excess body weight can increase the amount of fatty tissue in the neck area, which may compress the airway, making it more prone to obstruction during sleep. Individuals with obstructive sleep apnea often experience loud snoring, gasping, or choking sensations, and may frequently wake up during the night.

In contrast, central sleep apnea occurs not due to an obstruction but rather due to a failure of the brain to send appropriate signals to the muscles that control breathing. Hypopnea syndrome involves episodes of shallow breathing, which may not necessarily be obstructive in nature, and mixed sleep apnea combines features of both obstructive and central sleep apnea but is not primarily identified by the local obstruction due to obesity. Understanding these distinctions is important in recognizing the predominant role of obstruction in obstructive sleep apnea, particularly as it relates to body weight and anatomy.