airway

Using continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, can help lower that risk by improving sleep quality and maintaining steady airflow throughout the night.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic disorder that can cause a person’s airway to be repeatedly blocked during sleep.

It's a routine step in general anaesthesia that keeps the airway open and allows precise control of the patient's breathing while they are unconscious.

"A fish bone in the airways causing breathing problems is an emergency," she said.

Orthopaedic surgeons now prescribe them to help patients lose weight before knee surgery, while chest physicians use them for those with sleep apnea, a disorder that blocks the airway during sleep.