The Trouble With Snoring and Sleep Apnea
There's no doubt that snoring becomes a real problem when
someone else is around to hear it. However, snorers may face a
more serious issue than an upset partner and a night on the
couch. Snoring can be indicative of a problem that deprives many
people of sleep: sleep apnea.
Snoring is caused by an array of things. Dental problems can
cause the noisy affliction. And sometimes a cold or other
respiratory problem causes raspy noises to emerge from the
sleeper. However, there is a condition known as sleep apnea that
causes snoring.
The main difference with snoring due to sleep apnea is that the
snoring is the result of noises made as the brain arouses the
sleeper to continue breathing. Yes, continue breathing. Sleep
apnea is a condition where the sleep actually stops breathing
for one reason or another.
Sleep apnea results in poor and fragmented sleep. While the
person suffering from the condition may not realize he or she is
waking, the body knows, and the quality and amount of necessary
REM sleep is diminished.
While occasional snoring is something everyone's partner has to
deal with, it is important to have constant and persistent
snoring checked out by a health care professional. As with most
snoring-related conditions, sleep apnea is treatable. Creating a
plan with help from a qualified professional can stop the
snoring and help reduced blood pressure, fatigue, headaches and
memory problems that result from inadequate sleep.
It is important to remember that the trouble with snoring is
not, in fact the trouble. Snoring is always one of the symptoms
of another problem. The problem may be a cold or it may be
related to some dental or other cosmetic issue. Or it might be
sleep apnea. In any case, the causes of persistent snoring
should be found and treated.