Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that causes frequent pauses in breathing only during sleep. Many people are not aware that they have sleep apnea.
These brief pauses in breathing occur when the muscles in the back of the throat relax during sleep.
As the airway narrows, snoring occurs.
When the airway is completely closed off, air does not flow into the lungs and oxygen levels decrease.
When the brain realizes that breathing has stopped, it sends a signal to wake the person.
These constant awakenings throughout the night reduce sleep quality.
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