Final answer:
Sleep apnea is the total arrest and cessation of breathing during sleep. It is a disorder that can be dangerous, leading to various health issues. In infants, monitoring devices can be used to alert parents if a child stops breathing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. When there is a total arrest and cessation of breathing, it is referred to as sleep apnea. This can be very dangerous, as it can lead to stroke, heart failure, and tiredness. Sleep apnea affects both adults and infants, and in infants, the concern is the stopping of breath for longer periods of time. One type of monitor that can alert parents when a child is not breathing uses electromagnetic induction. A wire wrapped around the infant's chest has an alternating current running through it, and the expansion and contraction of the infant's chest changes the area through the coil. This results in a change in the induced current, alerting the parents if the child stops breathing.