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Sleep Apnea (also called Sleep Apnoea) is a common sleep disorder that is characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep, which force the sufferer to wake up to resume normal breathing, and disrupt and disturb their normal sleep cycle. These episodes, called apneas, usually last from a few seconds up to as long as sixty seconds in severe cases, and may occur repeatedly throughout the night. Next to extreme tiredness during the daytime hours, loud snoring is one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea. However those who snore do not necessarily suffer from sleep apnea. Making the distinction between the two is very important. In some cases snoring can be a precursor to sleep apnea but not always. Doctors cannot determine ahead of time which patients who snore will develop sleep apnea and which will not. Other factors such as gender, age, weight, smoking, drinking, etc. can play a role in the appearance of sleep apnea.
If you suspect that your snoring may be leading to sleep apnea it is essential to pay close attention (or for someone else to pay close attention) to both the pattern and sound of your snoring behavior. Is your snoring of the regular steady variety or is it loud, habitual, and occurs in bursts that alternate between regular calm breathing and/or gasping or choking for air? If you experience the latter then you are likely suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
If you definitely do not have sleep apnea and this fact has been confirmed by a doctor, and instead suffer from snoring then there are a variety of things you can try to combat your condition. First of all if excess weight is your problem then make a concentrated effort to lose pounds as best as you can. Make sure you do this in a healthy way however. Never put your health at risk by going on a diet that is dangerous. In order to lose the weight aim to eat less, eat healthier and exercise more. Too much weight is not good for your overall health but in regards to snoring, it can mean extra weight bearing down on the throat, which is not a good thing.
If you are a smoker, do away with the smoking habit. Smoking causes a "decreased lung capacity" and this can increase the likelihood of snoring taking place. If you have a tendency to sleep on your back change this and instead sleep on your left or right side or your stomach.
A surgical procedure known as laser-assisted uvulaplasty (LAUP) is useful for some snoring sufferers. However surgery should always be considered a last resort. If snoring is a major problem for you and/or disrupts your spouse or bed partner you should consult with your doctor or health care provider and find out how best to resolve the problem. For some people lifestyle changes are all that is needed to improve the situation whereas people with more serious, long-term snoring might need to take more drastic measures. Your doctor is there to help guide you and discuss the best plan of action for your particular situation.
Snoring is a very common problem and while some individuals are aware of their snoring and often wake themselves up, others find it necessary to be made aware of their condition by an other person who often finds him or herself awakened and frustrated by the loud snoring sounds. If snoring takes place over an extended period of time, it can cause the soft palate of the throat to increase in size. It cannot be stressed enough- while it is often believed that snoring is the cause of sleep apnea and while this may be the reality in some cases, it is also believed that snoring could "actually be a cause of changes that triggers some cases of sleep apnea."
Written by: Scott Parat
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If left untreated, Sleep Apnea can be life threatening. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) can cause people to fall asleep at inappropriate times, such as while driving, endangering their lives and the lives of their passengers and those around them.
Sleep apnea also appears to put individuals at risk for stroke and Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs), also known as "mini-strokes", and is associated with coronary heart disease, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, gout and high blood pressure.
So, if you or a loved one are suffering from sleep apnea, be sure to see your doctor so that the sleep apnea symptoms can be treated, removed, or reduced before they become life threatening.
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