How Snoring May Be Sleep Apnea
Amongst all the snoring related physical conditions, certainly the most acute and ironically least fully understood is a condition called Sleep Apnea. Both of these words must be emblazoned in the minds of each and every snorer, and anyone who lives with or cares about the safety and overall health of a snorer. It also can be related to Excessive Sleeping.
The word apnea inside the words sleep apnea derives from the Greek term for shortage of breathing. That, in a nutshell, offers a feeling of how damaging sleep apnea can be; it literally describes a situation where breathing stops during sleep.
There are two types of sleep apnea:
1) Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - This most common form of apnea takes place when throat muscles relax.
2) Central Sleep Apnea - This type of apnea occurs when the brain does not send proper signals to the muscles that regulate breathing.
Sleep apnea and snoring are directly connected because during snoring the air way of the trachea is consistently subjected to recurring collapse and obstruction; the truth is, it is that collapse and obstruction which leads to the vibration that, ultimately, manifests itself as audible snoring. Obstructive Sleep Apnea therefore develops when, as a result of that continuous collapse of the airway, breathing actually halts. Many people use CPAP machines to help with sleeping and look for CPAP Alternatives due to the discomfort of the machine.
Although Obstructive Sleep Apnea takes place two to three times as often in older male adults, it can affect young or old, male or female. Even young children can have sleep apnea, a dilemma more prevalent than once thought.
Specific factors can put an individual more at risk of getting sleep apnea:
Obesity & excess fat (causing an enlarged neck and extra soft tissue within the trachea)
Enlarged adenoids and/or tonsils (air passage may become blocked when tonsils or adenoids are far too large)
Sex and age (older men are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea than women are)
Drinking alcohol (sedates the throat muscles causing them to collapse)
Tobacco smoking (which inflames the upper air way)
Whereas death is obviously possible as a result of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (and subsequent insufficient breathing), there are numerous very serious effects that, although not fatal, are certainly severe.
Even when it is not fatal, Sleep apnea deprives one's body of vital oxygen; and thus, overall blood oxygen levels are decreased and at the same time, carbon dioxide levels rise. Leading to toxic accumulation that can cause heart disease, stroke, and brain damage. If you're thinking of a sleep machine read this article about BiPAP Machines.
If you believe you have sleep apnea or that you're snoring is nothing more than "snoring" it might be a good time to see your medical professional for a comprehensive evaluation
Stop Snoring Resources
A Novelist Takes Aim - WSJ.com
Stop Snoring - CBS News Video
Stop Being Silly & Go To Sleep: Information from Answers.com
Tags: CPAP alternatives, sleep apnea, sleeping disorder, snoring treatments

