Snoring is sometimes
merely a harmless if irritating (just ask your sleeping partner) habit, but it
is often a symptom of the dangerous condition known as obstructive sleep
apnea (OSA).
Loud, nightly snoring is the most common
symptom of OSA, a potentially fatal sleep disorder characterized by episodes in
which your breathing stops for upward of 10 seconds at a time multiple times
per hour. If not treated, obstructive sleep apnea can increase your risk for a
host of severe medical problems including hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia,
heart attack and stroke.
There are a number of
factors that affect whether you snore, but snoring itself is the result of an
airway obstruction that forces your respirations through a narrowed passage,
causing tissue in your mouth and throat to vibrate as you breathe in and out.
Chronic snoring that is accompanied by a person waking up gasping and choking
is a telltale symptom
of sleep apnea.
Because people with OSA
are often unaware that they snore or suffer interrupted sleep, it’s important
to discuss snoring and sleep apnea with family members or other loved ones if
they snore regularly. Although many people snore at least occasionally, snoring
can also be a sign of a problem bigger than the annoyance of your sleeping
partner and family.