Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by interruptions in breathing during sleep. These pauses in breathing can last from a few seconds to minutes and may occur multiple times throughout the night. Sleep apnea can significantly impact an individual's overall health and quality of life if left untreated. To diagnose sleep apnea, your provider may have you do a sleep study. Breathing devices such as continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines and lifestyle changes are common sleep apnea treatments.