Many people are accustomed to hearing the snoring of their bed partners. In most cases, it may not be something to cause major concern. But when the snoring becomes frequent and loud it may be a sign of a serious health problem. Sleep apnea is a common and possibly dangerous sleep disorder where a person's breathing literally stops and then restarts while asleep.

Because snoring is such a common problem today, signs of sleep apnea are not always easily identifiable. That's why it's important to learn how to identify specific signs that can distinguish the sounds of normal snoring from those associated with sleep apnea. Once you're aware of the sleep apnea symptoms and treatments you'll be better equipped with what you might have to deal with.

What Exactly Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition that interrupts your normal breathing rhythm during sleep. Instead of the regular rhythmic breathing in and out, patient's breathing can literally stop briefly or become extremely shallow before it suddenly restarts again. The period of time that the breathing stops can vary anywhere from 10 to 20 seconds but can occur repeatedly throughout the night. In many cases, stopping more than a hundred times during one sleep cycle.

When the breathing stops it can jolt you out of a normal sleep cycle so that you're unable to get the deep, restorative sleep your body needs to help you to function the next day.

Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea:

It is important for you to be able to identify normal snoring in comparison to the sleep apnea symptoms and treatments. Normal snoring has a regular rhythm to it but if your partner pauses in the middle of a snore, or if it is followed by sounds of choking or gasping it can be a major sign of sleep apnea.

Other common signs may be constantly fighting off sleepiness during the waking hours, perhaps at work, or while driving. You may also find that you find them drifting off to sleep as soon as the body stops its activity.

Other less common signs of sleep apnea are morning headaches, inability to concentrate, learning problems, irritability, depression, mood swings or personality changes, dry mouth or sore throat when you wake in the morning or the frequent need to wake up in the middle of the night to urinate.

Sleep Apnea Treatments:

In learning the sleep apnea symptoms and treatments you also need to know what to do when you've identified the problem. Once a person is diagnosed with the condition, it is important to follow through on the treatment. There are many things that can be done even at the home remedy level that can help. Health care professionals recommend at the very least that patients exercise regularly, quit smoking, avoid drinking alcohol or taking sleeping pills, stay away from caffeine and heavy meals, and make sure that they have a regular sleep routine to help them to relax better.

There are plenty of alternative treatments that can be used to bring relief from sleep apnea but if those fail to help there is also medical treatment you can find from your health care professional.