Definition:
Apnea is a temporary period of time in which an individual stops breathing. It literally means, "no breath."
Apnea can be due to obstruction in the airways leading from the mouth to the lungs, as in sleep apnea, or caused by dysfunction in the brain (central sleep apnea).
During the dying process with lung cancer as well as other diseases, individuals often develop an irregular breathing pattern termed Cheyne-stokes respirations, where periods of deep, rapid breathing are followed by episodes of apnea.
