Apnea is a frequent disruption in sleep from blocked or constricted airflow caused by a physical obstruction in the upper airway or a missed signal from the brain to the respiratory muscles. Snoring is a major sign of obstructive sleep apnea.

If you think that merely waking up a lot — in some cases, 30 or more episodes an hour — doesn’t really sound that bad, here’s something to consider: Apnea is linked to irregular heartbeats, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and strokes.