A breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep is called Sleep Apnea. Below is the algorithm that describe Assessment and management of obstructive sleep apnea.
Symptoms and signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea can be seen in the following table:
| Symptoms | Signs |
| Loud Snoring | Obesity (particularly upper body) |
| Excessive daytime sleepiness | Mandibular/maxillary hypoplasia |
| Choking/grasping during sleep | Crowding of the oropharinx |
| Unrefreshing sleep | Large tonsils or tongue |
| Daytime fatique | Nasal and nasopharingeal obstruction |
| Impaired concentration | |
| Family history of obstructive sleep apnea |
(source: bcguidelines.ca)
