Sleep Apnea is a serious sleep disorder where a person repeatedly stops breathing while asleep. Common symptoms are loud snoring and still feeling tired after a full night of sleep.

While there are different types of sleep apnea, the more common form is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA.

This occurs when gravity and muscle relaxation causes the tongue and surrounding soft tissue to collapse back into the throat area, resulting in the person’s airway to become obstructed. Sensing a lack of oxygen, the brain sends an alarm to rouse the sleeper to raise their head and open the airway. This can happen 6 to 10 times an hour and contribute to chronic lack of sleep.

While not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, if you do snore it is a good idea to bring it up with your doctor.