Waking up suddenly in the dead of night, unable to move, feeling like you can't breathe, and experiencing a sensation of pressure on your chest or throat—this experience can be terrifying for anyone. Many people dismiss it as a bad dream, a hallucination, or even a supernatural event. However, according to medical experts, this condition could be a sign of a serious sleep disorder like Obstructive Sleep Apnea, which needs to be understood and treated promptly.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a condition in which a person's breathing repeatedly stops during sleep. This problem occurs when the muscles in the throat relax during sleep, causing the airway to become partially or completely blocked. As a result, insufficient oxygen reaches the lungs. When oxygen levels drop, the body wakes itself up suddenly to protect itself. During this time, the person may experience a feeling of suffocation, pressure, or as if someone is strangling them.
Weight gain is the main cause

Dr. Abhishek Gupta, a chest specialist at BD Pandey District Hospital in Nainital, explains that there are many misconceptions about this problem. He says that patients often report feeling as if someone is pressing down on them while they sleep, but this is not actually the case. The main cause is weight gain and the accumulation of fat around the neck. While sleeping, the tongue slips backward and partially or completely blocks the airway. Dr. Gupta explains that when the airway is blocked, the amount of carbon dioxide in the body increases and the oxygen level decreases. This situation is a danger signal for the body, causing a sudden awakening. During this time, the person experiences a rapid heartbeat, sweating, anxiety, and a feeling of being choked. If this situation is happening repeatedly, it can be dangerous to take it lightly. 

The disease can cause several major problems.
Common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include loud and persistent snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep, headaches upon waking, daytime fatigue, drowsiness despite sufficient sleep, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. In many cases, the patient themselves is unaware of the breathing pauses during sleep; it is often family members who notice and report it. According to experts, if this disease is not treated in time, it can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and heart rhythm problems. Prolonged oxygen deprivation directly affects the heart and brain, which can increase the risk of death.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet are essential.
Dr. Gupta explains that age and lifestyle also play a significant role in this disease. Generally, this problem is more common in men after the age of 50, while in women, the risk increases after the age of 40. Obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and lack of physical activity further increase the risk of this disease. To prevent and control it, doctors emphasize certain necessary precautions. These include regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and body fat percentage, eating a balanced and healthy diet, avoiding heavy meals or alcohol before bed, and adopting a proper sleeping position.

In serious cases, special tests and treatment may be necessary under a doctor's supervision. He said that if a person repeatedly experiences choking, pauses in breathing, or a feeling of stiffness in the body during sleep, they should not ignore it as fear or a delusion, but should contact a doctor immediately. Timely diagnosis and proper treatment can control serious diseases like obstructive sleep apnea and prevent major health risks in the future.

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