Sleeping This Way Can Lead to Depression, Study Shows - msnNOW

"Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common problem that affects a person's breathing during sleep, during which air cannot flow normally into the lungs," say the authors of one big sleep apnea study.

"The blockage in the airflow is usually caused by the collapse of the soft tissues in the back of the throat (upper airway) and the tongue during sleep." The authors found that sleep apnea can have dangerous repercussions.

If you wake up from snoring, from your breathing stopping, or you find yourself gasping for air in the middle of the night, you might have sleep apnea.

"If you have obstructive sleep apnea, tissues in your throat relax during sleep, periodically blocking your airway, causing breathing interruptions that disrupt sleep," reports Harvard Health.

"Patients with OSA have impaired health and their psychosocial health and daily performance also decrease," wrote the authors?

"Sudden drops in blood oxygen levels that occur during sleep apnea increase blood pressure and strain the cardiovascular system.

Having obstructive sleep apnea increases your risk of high blood pressure (hypertension)," says the Mayo Clinic.

"Obstructive sleep apnea might also increase your risk of recurrent heart attack, stroke and abnormal heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation.

To keep your airways open, sleep on your side or on your stomach—that will help mild apnea