hypopnea

When one's breathing is reduced, this condition is known as a hypopnea; if one's breathing stops altogether, it is called an apnea.

It’s traditionally divided into two terms: apnea and hypopnea.

Apnea is measured on the apnea/hypopnea index — how many times an hour a person stops or nearly stops breathing for at least 10 seconds.

A sleep apnea diagnosis requires more than five episodes of apnea or hypopnea an hour while asleep, Park said.