While many people have snoring problems, they usually laugh it off and don't think that it affects their health at all. In all reality, they could be no further from the truth. Snoring can be a precursor to a dreaded sleep disorder known as sleep apnea.

Few people realize exactly what sleep apnea is. It is a condition in which there is an obstruction of the airway while a person is asleep. Consequently, snoring is a sign that the airway is at least partially obstructed, and the noise snoring is known for is the body's unconscious attempt to gasp for air. In sleep apnea, the airway can be totally obstructed, causing a person to not breathe while sleeping for 10 seconds or longer at a time. This can cause the victim to wake up throughout the night, gasping for air, and often being left with a sore throat and a headache due to the lack of oxygen and the friction in their airway. These breathless periods are known as ‘apneas' and obstructive sleep apnea sufferers may experience them hundreds of times throughout the night.

The sore throat and headaches are actually some of the least problematic symptoms caused by sleep apnea. Since the sufferer tends to wake up multiple times throughout the night, their body's regular sleep schedule is undeniably altered. Those with apnea often wake up feeling like they got no sleep at all, causing them to be drowsy, inattentive, and aggravated throughout the day. Sleep apnea often does not let up, either, causing the person to get less sleep than they need every night until the problem is treated. Long-term untreated apnea sufferers often experience higher blood pressure from the condition, as well as an increased risk of stroke or heart attack. Sufferers also face an exponentially higher risk of being in an automobile accident due to their constant drowsiness and lack of concentration.

If you think that you may have sleep apnea, you can participate in an overnight sleep study at a hospital to accurately diagnose the condition. Known as a polysomnography test, doctors monitor your breathing patterns throughout the night to ensure that the problem that you face is in fact sleep apnea. If you have sleep apnea, a number of solutions may be employed, most commonly via the use of a CPAP machine. Standing for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, the machine forces air into your airway, allowing you to get the oxygen you need to stay asleep throughout the night.

If you think you have sleep apnea, you need to act on it immediately; waiting can only prolong the problems that you face.