There are lots of reasons that millions of people don't get a good night's rest. One of the most common sleep apnea is highly treatable, and better treatments are on the way. Sleep apnea occurs when the tongue falls back into the throat, blocking the airway.
Breathing actually stops for a moment.
It can happen in any position and hundreds of time a night. At least two treatments currently under development offer hope for sleep apnea. The first, called a hypoglossal nerve stimulator, would act something like a heart pacemaker. Implanted under the skin, it would regularly stimulate the nerve than controls the tongue, pushing it forward. The second treatment involves placing a small catheter through a pinhole in the trachea, and blowing air directing into the breathing passages.