Sleep apnea

Snoring can be the symptom of a much larger problem, particularly sleep apnea.  If your breathing during the night slows down or even pauses, it is a sign of apnea.  How bad your condition is can be determined at a sleep clinic where your heart rate, oxygen levels, and many other things are monitored while you sleep.  The clinic will determine the severity of your apnea and provide solutions.

One cause of sleep apnea is being overweight.  Sometimes by getting down to your desired weight is all that is needed for a cure.  If that doesn't work then a CPAP device with a mask can be used.  I've had sleep apnea for years and I'm not overweight and my problem was cured when I started using the CPAP machine.

This is a serious condition.  People have died in their sleep from this problem and a physician who specializes in sleep should be seen.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sleep-apnea/DS00148

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. You may have sleep apnea if you snore loudly and you feel tired even after a full night's sleep.

Sleep apnea occurs in two main types:

• Obstructive sleep apnea, the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax
• Central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing

Additionally, some people have complex sleep apnea, which is a combination of both.

If you think you might have sleep apnea, see your doctor. Treatment is necessary to avoid heart problems and other complications.

 

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