Which type of sleep apnea involves complete blockage of the airway during sleep?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is characterized by a complete or partial blockage of the airway during sleep, typically caused by the relaxation of the muscles in the throat. This obstruction leads to episodes of stopped breathing, which can result in decreased oxygen levels and fragmented sleep. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea often experience loud snoring, gasping, or choking during sleep, and they may be unaware of these episodes.

This condition differs from Central Sleep Apnea, where the brain fails to send the appropriate signals to the muscles that control breathing, resulting in a lack of respiratory effort rather than a physical obstruction in the airway. Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome refers to a combination of both obstructive and central sleep apneas occurring in the same individual, while Hypoventilation Syndrome is characterized by an abnormally low ventilation leading to increased carbon dioxide in the blood, and is not primarily caused by airway obstruction.