What is the Difference Between Apnea and Dyspnea?

Apnea and dyspnea are two conditions that affect the normal pattern and mechanism of respiration. The key difference between them is as follows:

• Apnea: This refers to the cessation of breathing that lasts for 10 seconds or more during sleeping. The process of breathing is completely stopped in sleep apnea.
• Dyspnea: This is defined as the feeling of an uncomfortable need to breathe. In contrast to apnea, the mechanism of breathing is only partially interrupted in dyspnea.

In summary, apnea is characterized by the complete cessation of breathing for an extended period during sleep, while dyspnea is the feeling of an uncomfortable need to breathe with a partial interruption in the breathing mechanism. Both conditions can be serious and may require medical attention.

Comparative Table: Apnea vs Dyspnea

Apnea and dyspnea are two conditions that affect the normal pattern and mechanism of respiration. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the two:

Both apnea and dyspnea can be symptoms of underlying conditions, and treating them involves addressing the underlying cause. Diagnosis of apnea can be done using a device called an apnea-measuring device, which records the number of times the patient's breathing stops each hour over the night. Diagnosing dyspnea, on the other hand, requires tests to be done to identify the cause based on other accompanying symptoms.