Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much to allow normal breathing. When the muscles relax, your airway narrows as you inhale, and breathing may be inadequate for 10 seconds or longer. Your brain senses this impaired breathing and briefly rouses you from sleep so that you can reopen your airway. You may make a snorting, choking or gasping sound. You are more at risk for developing sleep apnea if you are overweight, an adult male, use drugs or alcohol, are a smoker, have a family history of sleep apnea, or if you have a certain medical condition such as Type 2 Diabetes.