Sleep apnoea causes a person to stop breathing during their sleep.
This is usually triggered by an obstruction of the airway, which can be due to swollen tonsils, although that is more common in children than adults.
Other causes include nose or sinus problems; being overweight, as fat that accumulates in the neck can obstruct breathing; or even your natural anatomy, including the size of your tongue and the opening of your windpipe, as well as the shape of your head and neck.
Untreated sleep apnoea can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. For overweight people, losing 10% of their weight may rid them of the condition completely.
SOURCES: NPR.ORG, SLEEPFOUNDATION.ORG, WEBMD.COM, VERYWELLHEALTH.COM…