Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea, characterized by repeated episodes of partial or complete blockage of the airway during sleep. These blockages occur when the muscles at the back of the throat relax excessively, causing the airway to narrow or close, and momentarily stopping breathing. This condition contrasts with central sleep apnea, where the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. When the brain is deprived of oxygen during sleep, OSA can lead to a number of serious conditions affecting not only quality of life, but brain health and function. It is important to seek medical attention.

Omid B. Mehdizadeh, MD, is an otolaryngology-head & neck (ENT) surgeon with particular expertise in voice, swallowing and airway conditions at Pacific Neuroscience Institute (PNI). A Los Angeles native, his career has spanned treating world-class opera and Broadway singers to surgical mission trips serving underprivileged and indigenous populations of Central America. Outside PNI, he has focused his time on educating medical and undergraduate students and providing medical care to disenfranchised populations through community clinics.