Since this process happens repeatedly throughout the night, a person with sleep apnea rarely gets the rest they need to function at their highest levels throughout the day. With the airway blocked, air from the nose and mouth cannot reach the lungs, and the person wakes up often gasping and choking for air.
The relaxed muscles take up extra space, and as a result, airflow to the lungs is blocked. If you’re not familiar with it-sleep apnea occurs when a person is asleep, and the muscles of their tongue and throat relax and expand to a size larger than they are when the person is awake. If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s possible you have sleep apnea. Do you wake up in the morning after a long night’s sleep and wonder why you still feel tired? Do you feel unfocused, drained, and have difficulty concentrating on tasks during the day? Has your partner complained about loud snoring or woke you up to let you know you sounded like you were choking or gasping for air while asleep?
