Snoring Can Be Due to Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Get a Simple Test

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition which causes sufferers to literally stop breathing and repeatedly wake in the night. This in turn leads to excessive daytime sleepiness and is known to contribute to about 20% of all traffic accidents and a significant number of work accidents, as well as being linked to heart disease and stroke. If you think you may have OSA, or your sleeping partner says you seem to stop breathing for a minute or more while you sleep, you should take steps to find out more.

If you live in the UK , there’s a simple test called SnoreSense® that you can take. It’s an electronic device you can buy online or from a pharmacist for roughly $60.00. The device is a stick-on moustache-like strip that you wear for one night. Then you mail it to SnoreSense, who will analyze the results and tell you if you have signs of OSA or if you are just a heavy snorer. The company will also go on to offer optional forms of treatment, but you are probably best advised to take the results of the test to your doctor, and ask for advice.

SnoreSense is not (yet) available in the USA , so you have to go a longer route. Sleep lab studies will clarify whether you have OSA, and how severe it may be; however, they are sometimes costly, and there may be a waiting list for such studies. After the diagnosis has been made there are different treatment options, according to the severity of the problem.