Besides depriving the body of deep (restorative) sleep and REM (dream) sleep, chronic sleep apnea is a potentially fatal condition. But you may be wondering how exactly sleep apnea is dangerous, even fatal.

During the night as the body is deprived of oxygen our heart rate slows down. During an apneic episode precisely when the body has run dangerously low on oxygen it sends off the alarm that it needs more oxygen and your heart begins to beat rapidly. Throughout the night this may reoccur over 100 times or more an hour. The constant slowing and speeding up of our heart rate puts a tremendous amount of stress on it.

A diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is determined by a Board Certified Sleep Physcian that has evaluated an overnight sleep study done for the patient.

Normal apneic events: 0-4 per hour.

Mild apneic events: 5-14 per hour.

Moderate apneic events:  15-29 per hour.

Severe apneic events: 30 or more per hour.

Do you snore? Do you experience daytime sleepiness or wake-up feeling unrested? If you answered yes to either of these, chances are you are being robbed of oxygen repeatedly during the night but do not remember it upon waking. Besides the obvious dangers caused from lack of oxygen, the health risks associated with lack of proper rest are many, and can be fatal. So while you may think you are getting 8 hours of sleep each night, if you are being disturbed repeatedly as your body is fighting for oxygen, the truth is you’re no where near that 8 hours. It’s likely you’re not even getting half that since the only sleep that counts as “restorative” are those hours spent in the REM stage. Consequently, REM sleep is also the stage in which our muscles are most relaxed and when these episodes are likeliest to occur.

What Causes Snoring and Sleep Apnea?

Snoring and OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) both involve the soft tissue in the back of the throat becoming too relaxed. In the case of snoring the soft tissue, while not completely blocking the airway is in the airway path. As air hits the tissue with each breath it flaps, much like a flag does when the wind blows, causing the loud sound snoring is known for. But during apneic episodes the soft tissue collapses, causing a full or near full blockage of the airway, triggering gasps or choking in response to the bodies lack of oxygen. There are many things that can contribute to snoring and OSA. See the physical and non-physical contributors below.

And while snoring and sleep apnea aren’t always associated with one another, snoring over a long period of time is likely to evolve into apnea

Yes it’s true that snoring often leads to sleep apnea. One night of aggravated sleep is all it takes to set the wheels in motion. Consider how tired an individual may be the night after snoring that resulted in continual interruption of Deep and REM sleep. As a result of exhaustion from the previous night their body and muscles quickly and easily become even more relaxed on the second night causing a repeat performance that is often times worse. This cycle continues until the snoring is remedied and they are able to get a good nights rest.

When we consider this scenario it is easy to understand how snoring can and often does lead to obstructive sleep apnea.

Daytime Sleepiness

If you snore, pay close attention to your body and the signs/symptoms that occur from aggravated sleep. Feeling tired during the day is a strong indication that your snoring is affecting your sleep quality. Despite the possibility that you may not be experiencing apneic episodes, it is likely your snoring will eventually lead to OSA (obstructive sleep apnea).

Diagnosing and Treating Snoring Early

Paying attention to the warning signs of sleep deprivation caused by snoring or sleep apnea can have a tremendous effect on the success and type of treatment needed. It is important that you have an overnight sleep study done to determine is you have sleep apnea. Talk to your PCP about your concerns and get a referral to a Sleep Physician to get a overnight sleep test.  Since more severe sleep apnea most often requires CPAP therapy your options become more limited as your condition worsens. Early diagnosis and treatment is equally important for preventing the many health risks associated with snoring and sleep apnea.  Less invasive treatments are more often a viable treatment for snoring/sleep apnea, and offer a better chance of success, when diagnosed in the earliest stages.