Sleep apnea is a potentially fatal condition when breathing stops for up to a minute at frequent intervals during sleep and is associated with heavy snoring. Often the sufferer isn't aware that they have this condition, but may experience symptoms such as daytime drowsiness or headaches. It's only if they share a bed with a partner that the realisation they have sleep apnea comes to light.

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. This is caused by a blockage in the airways resulting in a difficulty breathing as the tissues in the mouth, nasal passages and throat won't allow the proper amount of air into the lungs. During sleep the tissues in the airways relax, this is a normal part of sleep and is a function that allows the body to fully recover.

However if these tissues obstruct the airways and air isn't getting to the lungs an apnea will occur and you stop breathing. We have an inbuilt mechanism that causes the brain to realise it's not getting sufficient oxygen and this is when you snort or wake up very briefly in order to start breathing again.You wouldn't be aware of this as it's only for a fraction of a second.

Unfortunately this is usually only temporary and soon as you fall asleep again the same thing occurs and this could potentially happen several hundred times a night.

There are many causes of sleep apnea including obesity, enlarged tissue such as the tonsils and tongue, and allergies.

Obesity is a prime cause of sleep apnea as the neck becomes denser and tissue in the throat enlarged. These include the tonsils, uvula and tongue which knock against each other causing blockages or heavy and very loud snoring.

Some people have naturally smaller airways due to the shape of the skull and neck and this is a harder problem to resolve. Allergies such as a sensitivity to house dust can cause the lining of the nasal passage to swell and block the airways during sleep.

CSA or central sleep apnea is cause by an abnormality in the central nervous system in the form of disease or damage. Usually someone has sustained some sort of damage due to a stroke, tumour or viral infection.

This interferes with autonomic responses resulting in delayed breathing. This type of apnea can usually be treated with some sort of medication

 Sleep apnea can be very dangerous, not only in the sense that you actually stop breathing but also the release of stress hormones as a result of such disruption to the body. Cortisol the stress hormone can increase blood pressure and this may also affect the heart.

If you already have a weak heart or heart disease this can make the situation a lot worse. It's essential that you get treatment as soon as possible if you suspect that you suffer from sleep apnea

It's important that you know what's causing your sleep apnea so that you can get the right treatment. Eating healthily is very important and ensure that you eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Exercise is also vital to quality sleep and can calm you down making you feel relaxed. Taking these measures will improve your health all round as well as reduce the possibility of sleep apnea.

One of the main symptoms of sleep apnea as mentioned earlier is that you experience drowsiness during the day, as well as loud snoring and gasping or snorting noises as you try to breath.

You may also experience headaches and even depression. Due to the nature of sleep apnea your sleep is continually interrupted and this means that you won't enter the deep stages of sleep which promote healing and rest.

Your skin for example repairs itself during sleep and any infections are healed. Long term disruption of sleep may badly affect your health and lower your immune system.

One of the most effective treatments for sleep apnea is a device called a CPAP machine. This is a device that delivers a constant supply of oxygen into the airways using a pressure that is great enough to stop the tissues in the throat from collapsing and causing a blockage.  Although it's highly effective in stopping sleep apnea it's also awkward to carry around if you go away and can be a turn off to your partner.

There are some effective exercises you can do to stop your snoring and sleep apnea, as well as foods to avoid. In some cases surgery is the best option and this is usually performed under a local anaesthetic using a laser.