The more common of the two forms of apnea it is caused by a blockage of the airway usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax. Academy Of Sleep Med On What Causes Sleep Apnea Central Sleep If you have moderate to severe sleep apnea you might benefit from using a machine that delivers air pressure through a mask while you sleep. Diagnosis of sleep apnea . In the most common form this follows loud snoring. It is underdiagnosed in that some people with moderate to severe sleep apnea are unaware that they have the condition. The main types of sleep apnea are. A definitive diagnosis of sleep apnea can be made only with a sleep study conducted during a visit to a sleep lab usually overnight or a home study performed with special equipment. Obstructive sleep apnea osa. With cpap see pap the air pressure is somewhat greater than that of the surrounding air and is ...