by Amy Hite

Created on: July 07, 2010   Last Updated: July 19, 2010

You hear the ebb and flow of your partner’s snores every night, but do you ever stop and wonder what causes all of that incessant noise? Many people assume that snoring is just a nasty habit, but it might surprise you to find that your loved one may suffer from a life threatening sleep disorder known as sleep apnea.

People who have sleep apnea essentially stop breathing for moments during sleep. They might stop breathing for a few seconds or even a minute, and the cessations happen anywhere from several times to hundreds of times an hour. The most common reason for this is an obstruction in the back of the throat. The soft tissue in the back of the throat may be blocking the airway. People who are overweight often develop sleep apnea because of the fatty tissue in the area.

The most common signs of sleep apnea include snoring and excessive sleepiness during waking hours. The good news is that sleep apnea is treatable. If left untreated however, it can be a death sentence. People with recurrent, untreated sleep apnea are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke. In addition, apnea sufferers are at risk for motor vehicle accidents due to sleepiness while driving. The lack of oxygen to the brain during breathing cessation can even lead to mild brain injury.

Sleep studies are used to diagnose sleep apnea, and treatment usually consists of wearing a mask that forces air through the constricted airway, helping keep it open and allow for a more restful night’s sleep. The mask is known as a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. Sometimes, surgery is necessary to correct a severely blocked airway. Often, lifestyle changes such as weight loss or quitting smoking can also alleviate apnea symptoms, or help them go away indefinitely.

Sleep apnea sufferers may be hesitant to get tested because snoring is often an embarrassing trait. However, testing and treatment is vital to curb the deadly effects the apnea has on the body. An overnight sleep study is a small price to pay for extending a life, or even improving one’s quality of life. Some people with sleep apnea do not realize how much they have been missing because they are too tired or irritable to participate in activities. Look for signs and do not be so quick to dismiss something like excessive tiredness. Get to your closest sleep clinic to find out what happens while you sleep. You might be saving a life - yours or your loved one’s.

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