But for millions of people, the hours don't matter, because what's happening during those hours is closer to suffocation than rest. Sleep apnea, a condition that causes repeated interruptions to breathing during sleep, is quietly affecting an enormous number of people who have no idea they have it. And the longer it goes unrecognised, the worse the consequences become."We all look forward to a good night's sleep, that blissful period of rest and rejuvenation," says Dr. Rahul Modi, Senior Consult