3 things to know about SNORING

It may be obstructive sleep apnea, an often ignored cardiovascular risk factor.

- SARAH DIGIULIO

You know that a lack of sleep can hurt your heart. But if, like 30 million other Americans, you have sleep apnea, you could be getting plenty of zzz's and still be putting your heart at risk. We asked experts what they wished more people knew about this sleep disorder.

The researcher says... SLEEP APNEA DEPRIVES YOUR BRAIN OF OXYGEN

When a person has sleep apnea, something (such as anatomy, fat that narrows the airway, or an issue with nervous system stimulation to airway muscles) causes the partial or complete closure of the airway. This makes it hard to breathe in sufficient oxygen during sleep. Your brain registers that it's not getting enough, and the low O₂ wakes you or arouses you (often with a gasp or a snort) to a lighter stage of sleep, depriving you of deep sleep. It also kicks airway muscles back into gear to open the airway.