Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This is a potentially serious sleep disorder.
During an obstructive sleep apnea episode, your throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep. Breathing usually resumes with a loud gasp, snort, or body jerk. These episodes can interfere with sound sleep and can reduce the flow of oxygen to vital organs and cause irregular heart rhythms.
