Which statement best describes Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

• A. Insomnia and restless behavior during sleep
• B. Recurrent obstruction of the pharyngeal airway during sleep, with resultant hypoxemia and sleep fragmentation
• C. Intense fear of gaining weight
• D. Regurgitation of recently ingested food

Answer: (B)

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is defined by recurrent obstruction of the upper airway, specifically the pharynx, during sleep. This collapse or narrowing leads to episodes of little or no airflow despite ongoing respiratory effort, producing intermittent hypoxemia and brief arousals to re-open the airway, which fragments sleep. This combination explains the hallmark features—loud snoring, interrupted sleep, and daytime sleepiness—and ties to cardiovascular risks from repeated oxygen desaturations. The other statements describe different problems (insomnia-related sleep quality issues, gastroesophageal reflux, or an eating disorder), which do not capture the repetitive airway collapse with hypoxemia and sleep fragmentation that characterizes obstructive sleep apnea.