Sleep apnea can be a serious health issue. One of the symptoms of sleep apnea is snoring. Many people may joke about the snoring that they hear from their partner at night. They may complain about their lack of sleep. The person that snores may try to make excuses. It might seem easy to ignore the facts that exist about snoring and sleep apnea is one of those facts.

What Are the Dangers of Sleep Apnea?

With sleep apnea, the airway is obstructed. The severity of that obstruction will vary. A person suffering from sleep apnea may stop breathing for several seconds at a time while they are sleeping. While some people may think that they will die from the lack of oxygen if they suffer from sleep apnea that is not the case. A person will wake up when they do not get air. The dangers of sleep apnea are in the different health conditions behind the apnea and the long-term effects of the condition.

Sleep apnea has been linked to conditions that include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cardiovascular issues. If these conditions are left untreated, they can shorten the lifespan of a person dramatically.

Sleep apnea also can cause problems on its own. The lack of oxygen at times will cause the brain to try to function at a higher level when a person is sleeping. It will cause the body to release more adrenaline and that, in turn, can prevent a person from getting the restful sleep they need. Rest is important to the body and is a key to a sound, restful sleep is good health. Anything that disrupts this a risk to the body.

The next time someone tells you that you snore or if you know someone that is snoring, do not ignore the noise. It could be a sign of a more serious problem.

For more information about snoring and sleep apnea and what to do about it, contact Dr. Levy today.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea Part Two