A Times Herald-Record reader asks: My wife has complained of being short of breath while shopping in the mall. She says it’s just a sign of age, but I’m concerned about her.

Obstructive sleep apnea is common in older adults. People with sleep apnea stop breathing for as long as 30 seconds at a time. These interruptions can happen hundreds of times a night. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax, narrowing your airway and cutting off your breathing.