Snoring often accompanies sleep apnea, but it does not necessarily mean that if you snore, you are suffering from sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which a person has one or more interruptions in breathing while asleep. In sleep apnea, a build up of carbon dioxide occurs in the blood flow. The brain detects lack of oxygen and hence, responds by waking up the person so that normal breathing can resume. It may occur several times a night distracting a person’s sleep.

Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea:

1. Loud Snoring
2. Difficulty in breathing or to get air into the lungs during sleep
3. Daytime drowsiness
4. Waking up suddenly

Types of Sleep Apnea:

There are two major types of Sleep Apneas:

1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea: This is the most common type of sleep apnea. Obstruction in breathing causes this type of sleep apnea. It blocks the airflow in both your mouth as well as nose.

2. Central Sleep Apnea: As compared to obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea is less common. It is a central nervous system disorder and the reasons are diseases such as a viral brain infection, brain tumor or chronic respiratory disease.

An untreated sleep apnea can increase the risk of heart failure, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. Hence, proper treatment of sleep apnea is a must to avoid all these health risks. A change in lifestyle, surgery or breathing devices can treat sleep apnea successfully in many people.

If you are snoring, specially, loud snoring, it would be a good idea to try some snoring prevention ideas and also talk to your doctor to discard a possible sleep apnea problem.