Health Risks of Snoring and Sleep Apnea, From Heart Attacks to Car Accidents

"It's like someone strangling you"
"When sleep apnea patients come here, there's a real sense of disbelief," says Ralph Downey III, PhD, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Loma Linda University in California.

"We tell them, 'Every minute you stop breathing for 30 seconds; that's like somebody coming in and strangling you.' That's the big wake-up call—when they realize how low their oxygen level is."

Other health risks and complications
Sleep apnea also increases your risk for more immediate problems:

• It can lead to sleep deprivation, excessive daytime sleepiness, memory loss and concentration problems, and depression.
• It can aggravate other chronic conditions, such as chronic pain, asthma, and restless legs syndrome.
• Driving or operating machinery when you have untreated sleep apnea can be especially dangerous.

The severity of your snoring problem can be determined through an overnight sleep study, where machines measure the oxygen saturation of your red blood cells. (Anything below 90% saturation is cause for concern.) Depending on the results of these tests, you may be diagnosed with sleep apnea or a similar condition, upper airway resistance syndrome.

If you're unsure whether your or your loved one's symptoms warrant immediate attention, use these guidelines about when to see a doctor. The sooner sleep apnea is treated, the less likely you are to suffer health consequences later.