If you snore and you also have other signs of disrupted sleep like excessive daytime sleepiness and headaches, you might be experiencing sleep apnea. Below are some questions to consider. If you answer yes to any of them, keep reading and consult your doctor.
- Do you snore on a regular basis? Does your snoring cause you or your sleeping partner to wake up?
- Do you ever wake up suddenly, gasping or choking for air?
- Do you experience excessive sleepiness during the day? Do you often have trouble staying awake, even when occupied?
- Do you experience headaches, sore throat, or dry mouth in the mornings after waking up?
Sleep apnea is a dangerous and progressive sleep disorder (it gets worse as you age). Not only does sleep apnea result in sleep deprivation, but it also can threaten your life. This article discusses the symptoms of sleep apnea, causes, diagnosis, dangers, and treatments.
Snoring is a loud sound that a person makes as they breathe during sleep.
Sleep apnea is a true breathing obstruction, which requires the sleeper to awaken to begin breathing again. A person with sleep apnea wakes up many times a night to regain breathing, but usually remembers nothing at all about the awakenings. The sleep partner of a person with sleep apnea remembers a great deal about the awakenings and is generally a good witness of the incidents.
Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea. Snoring by itself does not involve the cessation of breathing.
