People who snore loudly are often the target of bad jokes and middle of the night elbow thrusts; but snoring is no laughing matter. While loud disruptive snoring is at best a social problem that may strain relationships, for many men, women and even children, loud habitual snoring may signal a potentially life threatening disorder: obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA.

Those who have OSA are often unaware of their condition and think they sleep well. The symptoms that usually cause these individuals to seek help are daytime drowsiness or complaints of snoring and breathing cessations observed by a bed partner (apnea). Other symptoms/indicators may include:

 
 

• Excessive daytime drowsiness
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Restless sleep
• Problem with mental function
• Poor judgment/can't focus
• Memory loss
• Quick to anger
• High blood pressure
• Nighttime chest pain
• Depression
• Problem with excess weight
• Large neck (>17" around in men, >16" around in women)
• Airway crowding
• Morning headaches
• Reduced libido
• Frequent trips to the bathroom at night