Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder.
Adults with sleep apnea repeatedly stop breathing for more than 10 seconds while they sleep. It is more common in men than in women. It is also more common in people who are overweight, but there are many people with normal weight who have sleep apnea. During normal sleep, throat muscles relax. If there is too little room inside your throat, or too much tissue pressing on the outside of your throat, your airway can become blocked.