Simply Snoring or Something More?

If you snore, you may know about nightly jabs in the ribs and grumbling from your bed partner, or complaints from neighbors. The noise you make can disrupt their sleep and your own. It may even be a sign of a more serious problem called sleep apnea. Read on to learn more.

Snoring Is Annoying

Snoring may harm your sleep and the sleep of your bedmate or people in other rooms. This can put a strain on your relationships. Snoring can also be the first sign of sleep apnea, a serious health condition.

Sleep Apnea Is Serious

If you have sleep apnea, your throat becomes blocked during sleep. You stop breathing for short periods of time. To breathe, you must briefly wake up. The cycle repeats many times throughout the night. Besides snoring, you may:

• Gasp or snort in your sleep.
• Wake up tired after a full night’s sleep.
• Wake up with a headache.
• Feel very sleepy during the day.
• Fall asleep easily without meaning to.
• Have problems with memory
• Be cranky or short-tempered. People with sleep apnea are much more likely to fall asleep during the day, sometimes
  even while driving.
  

Sleep apnea also makes you more likely to develop certain other health problems,
such as high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.

A Range of Treatment Options

Your doctor can discuss with you the various treatment options for snoring and sleep apnea. Treatment can help you breathe freely again so you get a good night’s sleep.