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At best, snoring is annoying. At worst, it can be a symptom of the very dangerous ailment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). It is estimated that as many as 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea -- with the vast majority of them undiagnosed.
Snoring occurs when the soft tissues at the back of the throat partially close off the airway.
Obstructive sleep apnea is the resulting condition when the soft tissues completely close off the airway. This airway blockage can reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the brain and body. As this occurs, the brain reacts by waking the patient up, which causes the airway to become unblocked. This process of blocking and unblocking the airway, which can occur hundreds of times an hour, causes significant disruption of sleep.
People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea frequently experience daytime drowsiness. Additionally, obstructive sleep apnea is a health problem that is associated with and can lead to high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, GERD, depression, impotence and stroke. If you are experiencing snoring, daytime sleepiness, or any of these other symptoms, you may have sleep apnea. You should see your physician or a sleep disorder specialist.
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People have obstructive sleep apnea when the airway is completely blocked. |
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