ðə pˈiəɹɪədz ʌv sˈaɪləns kæn lˈæst twˈɛnti sˈɛkəndz ɔːɹ lˈɔŋɡɚɹ ænd kæn hˈæpən mˈɛni tˈaɪmz ˈiːtʃ ˈaʊɚ, ɹɪzˈʌltɪŋ ɪn pˈʊɹ slˈiːp ænd ɹᵻdˈuːst lˈɛvəlz ʌv ˈɑːksɪdʒən ɪnðə blˈʌd.
The periods of silence can last 20 seconds or longer and can happen many times each hour, resulting in poor sleep and reduced levels of oxygen in the blood.