Most of us are familiar with the notion that high blood pressure is a silent killer, but rarely do we hear that sleep disorders are also deadly. As a matter of fact, obstructive sleep apnea is one of the least diagnosed causes of stroke and heart attack.

‘Apnea’ refers to the absence of breathing. As a sleep disorder, it refers to periods where a person stops breathing during sleep. One cause of obstructive sleep apnea is extra tissue in the back of the throat. This could be something like tonsils that are unusually large. It can also be caused by a decrease in the overall tone of the muscles that are holding the airway open. Another common cause of sleep apnea is the tongue falling to the back of the throat and occluding (covering) the airway. In adults, sleep apnea can also be attributed to obesity. This is due to the presence of excess tissue that can block the airway in certain sleeping positions.

Sleeping disorders are generally observed by others, not the person who is suffering the disorder. A common characteristic of sleep apnea is an abnormal sleep pattern where the sleeper may exhibit loud snoring, followed by silence, when breathing stops. The silence is then broken with loud choking or gasping as the sleeper momentarily and partially awakens, clears the air passage, and starts breathing again. This pattern will continue throughout the night.

The person who suffers from sleep apnea may awaken with headaches almost every morning. Other symptoms that are experienced by the person with sleep apnea include drowsiness and fatigue during the day, irritability due to lack of sleep, and decreased memory and attention span.

If you suspect that you or a loved one suffers from sleep apnea, it is important to visit with your doctor. Your physician can refer you to a sleep lab where a diagnosis can be made by qualified medical personnel. Should you be diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, it is possible that you will be prescribed with a CPAP device – a device called continuous positive airway pressure. With CPAP, you will wear a mask over your mouth and nose. Air is forced through the mask to keep your airways open while sleeping. Other treatments of sleep apnea include surgical procedures or medications, depending on the cause and severity of the sleeping disorder.

Unfortunately, many obstructive sleep apnea cases are left untreated because of lack of awareness. Spouses might joke about the other’s horrible snoring, but this snoring may in fact point to a serious medical condition. If you suspect that you or a loved one has sleep apnea, be sure to have it checked straight away. Taking care of the problem right away could very well save a life.