If You Feel This When Sleeping, it May Be Dangerous

Sleep apnea is linked to a host of dangerous health conditions, doctors say. "Sleep apnea happens when upper airway muscles relax during sleep and pinch off the airway, which prevents you from getting enough air," says Jonathan Jun, M.D., pulmonary and sleep medicine specialist at the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center. "Your breathing may pause for 10 seconds or more at a time, until your reflexes kick in and you start breathing again. Our lab and others have shown that sleep apnea is associated with higher risks of diabetes, independent of obesity, and that sleep apnea can increase blood sugar levels."