[balor123]

So we can survive a punch to the face now but we can't breath while asleep. Thanks for nothing, nature!

[pavel_lishin]

How do our faces prevent us from breathing in our sleep? I seem to have survived last night.

[e40]

Lucky you. Many people suffer from a deviated septum, which restricts airflow. The airflow in one of my nostrils is dramatically less than the other, and if the good one is blocked, for any reason (cold, allergies), I'm a mouth breather.

[pavel_lishin]

Ah, I forgot about deviated septums. Wonder what evolutionary advantage came with those.

[ars]

Sleep apnea and various sinus disorders are not rare.

[pavel_lishin]

I thought sleep apnea mostly occurred in people who are overweight?

[ars]

That is certainly a risk factor, but no, it happens in normal weight people too.

Pretty much anyone who snores is more likely to also have sleep apnea.

[Florin_Andrei]

Apparently, the evolutionary impetus to withstand punches to the face is greater than the one to breathe easily at night.

Mother Nature is awful.

[andyjdavis]

Indeed. Natural selection only cares about things that interfere with the ability to live long enough to reproduce. Whether or not the organism is happy, well rested and enjoys their life isn't particularly important from an evolutionary stand point.