Sleep apnea also spelled sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder where a person has pauses in breathing or periods of shallow breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea should not be the reason for you to be sleep deprived. Understanding Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders With Images If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night s sleep you might have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea a . Factors that may contribute to obstructive sleep apnea include obesity because more fat may be present in the walls of the pharynx a small or receding jaw with a narrowed airway loss of muscle. The main types of sleep apnea are. In the most common form this follows loud snoring. Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. There may be a choking or snorting sound as breathing resumes. You require a pillow that will give your head enough support and open your airways to decrease the breathing struggle. Each pause can last for a few second