As we age, the soft tissues in our throat relax more during sleep.
When you lie flat, gravity pulls these tissues into your airway.
This can trigger:
- Loud snoring
- Gasping for air
- Poor sleep quality
- Drops in oxygen levels
- More strain on your heart and brain
- And the long-term risks are serious.
Studies show people with untreated sleep apnea face up to a 3X higher risk of stroke and a 5X higher risk of heart attack.
They also face higher risks of developing memory loss and dementia.
And many of these events happen suddenly — often to people who felt "fine" the night before.
That is why so many people wake up feeling tired, even if they thought they slept all night.
The worst part? Most older adults are never told this by their doctors.