When the throat muscles and soft tissues at the back of the throat relax, they block the airway passage and inhibit a person’s ability to breathe in their sleep. With that said, anyone can develop sleep apnea, but the following factors put some individuals at a higher risk:
● Obesity
● High blood pressure
● Diabetes
● Asthma
● Chronic nasal congestion
● Smoking
Additionally, people with family histories of sleep apnea are more likely to develop it.