Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops or becomes shallow during sleep. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea, where the airway collapses or becomes blocked.
Common signs
Signs can include loud snoring, gasping, pauses in breathing, morning headaches, dry mouth, daytime sleepiness, poor concentration, or waking up unrefreshed.
Why it matters
Untreated sleep apnea can affect blood pressure, heart rhythm, mood, attention, driving safety, and overall cardiovascular risk.
Sleep apnea is common in people with obesity, but it can happen in people of any body size.