The Similarities And Differences Between The Sleep Ailment Sleep Apnea And Snoring

By Author: Emilee Jaden
Total Articles: 69
Comment this article

Sleep Apnea is caused by various things, as is snoring however one is harmless, and the other Hazardous. There is treatment however in the form of a CPAP machine.

Our sleeping patterns are constantly taken advantage of but, a good nights sleep can benefit our health, mind and well-being. It is predicted that over 17 million in the US have the condition alone. Therefore below is the symptoms and signs of what to look out for.

Good And Bad Snoring When a person snores, the person snoring is totally unaware that they are doing it. Light snorers are harmless and sleeping a full nights sleep is normal for them. A loud snorer is usually an indication of Sleep Apnea. As their airway gets blocked, they can stop breathing for seconds and even minutes at a time, at the end of a breathing pause, it is followed by a grunt which is why Sleep Apnea sufferers often get confused with snorers.

The morning after the night before When a sleeper snores not only are they unaware they can have a full nights sleep without waking one. Their partner however might not be the same. A person with Sleep Apnea suffers ...
... with pauses in breathing causing them to wake up sometime gasping for breath. Someone with Sleep Apnea has a very poor nights sleep resulting in them feeling drowsy the next day.

What Causes Sleep Apnea and Snoring There are many reasons for why someone suffers from snoring: from lying on your back all the way to obesity. Smoking and alcohol consumption has been linked to the condition. The causes of Sleep Apnea are very similar. However you are more likely to suffer from Sleep Apnea if: you are male, overweight, over 40 years old and you have a large neck. There has been cases where it has run through families.

The Warning Signs The best way to self diagnose yourself with the condition is by your partner noticing you have stopped breathing or by conducting a sleep study. However there is an array of symptoms you can have and notice yourself which could be a sign that you have Sleep Apnea, these include: Poor Quality of sleep, waking yourself by snoring especially if you have just fell asleep, headaches, depression and fatigue. It is always best to see a doctor about your worries.

The Treatment Snorers have been advised to use gum guards, medication and nasal strips. Sleep Apnea however is more important to treat. CPAP machines were made for the condition providing a strong current into the airway via a CPAP mask, whilst they sleep to keep the airway open. This way the sleeper won't experience pauses in breathing.

The population of snorers is very high, however they might be suffering from Sleep Apnea unknowingly. The condition can damage your health if left untreated, always visit your doctor if you have concerns.