Loud Snoring: Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

If you're reading this, you've probably either heard or said this, "Your snoring keeps me up at night. I can't sleep!" But loud snoring could be the tip of the iceberg. It could be pointing a bigger issue, sleep apnea.

Photo by: hobvias sudoneighm

Sleep apnea is characterized by pauses in your breathe for 10 seconds or more and could happen several times an hour. The side effects include: high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, irregular heart beats, heart attacks, diabetes, depression and worsening of ADHD.

Sleep Apnea: What are the Symptoms?

The most common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea are:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Waking up short of breath
• Loud snoring or episodes of choking, gasping or breathing cessation while sleeping
• Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Frequent morning headaches

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's time to talk to your doctor about treatment options. For many, the best option is CPAP therapy.

Check out our CPAP and BiPAP supply section to see a variety of masks, supplies and machines available to help you sleep.

You owe it to yourself, and your partner, to talk to your doctor today. Treating your sleep apnea will have a positive effect on your life.

Bonus Video: Why is Sleep so Important?

Why is sleep so important? Russell Foster is a circadian neuroscientist: He studies the sleep cycles of the brain. And he asks: What do we know about sleep?