Chandigarh, March 16 -- Loud, persistent snoring, choking or gasping during sleep could be signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a serious sleep disorder that affects breathing during sleep due to airway blockage.

On Saturday, the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) marked World Sleep Day by highlighting the dangers of OSA, a condition that impacts over a billion people worldwide.

Dr Jaimanti Bakshi, head of the ENT department, and Dr Sandeep Bansal, in-charge of the sleep lab at PGIMER, discussed the health implications of OSA. They explained that OSA was characterised by repeated episodes of partial or complete blockage of the upper airway during sleep.

These blockages cause pauses in breathing, known...