Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Snoring is an age-old problem and by itself is considered more of an annoyance than a major health threat. Sleep Apnea however is quite different and can be a potentially dangerous condition that requires proper diagnosis and treatment. It is thought that 90 percent of people who suffer with Sleep Apnea are rarely aware of their condition and are only made aware by a family member who has witnessed an event. Sleep Apnea is a characterized by pauses or blockages of breathing during sleep. The most common form is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat collapse around the opening blocking the airways. This deprives the person of oxygen for several seconds up to a minute or longer. The brain then becomes aware of the oxygen deprivation and sends out signals. This startles the person awake and breathing resumes usually with a gasping, gurgling or loud snoring sound.