Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when the muscles that support the soft tissues in your throat, such as your tongue and soft palate, temporarily relaxes. When these muscles relax, your airway is narrowed or closed, and breathing is momentarily cut off for 10 to 20 seconds.

This may lower the level of oxygen in your blood. Your brain senses this impaired breathing and briefly rouses you from sleep so that you can reopen your airway. This awakening is usually so brief that you don't remember it.