Are you not getting enough sleep at night…because someone else in the room is keeping you up? Maybe they’re snoring or they make a lout snort every once in awhile that jolts you awake. Next time this happens, instead of leaving to the couch, listen for a few things. If your partner is quiet for a period of time and then suddenly snorts loudly or makes a choking sound, he or she may have sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while sleeping. While people who are overweight are more likely to have this condition, nobody is immune. And although sleep apnea seems harmless, it can lead to more serious issues such as heart failure.
Unfortunately, this disease is often overlooked during regular office visits as there are no blood tests for it. However, there are treatments including sleeping devices, surgery, or in some cases – simply losing weight. So, if you or your partner are having trouble sleeping and cannot figure out why, talk to your doctor about sleep apnea.