The topic of snoring is often met with laughs. But usually not from the bedmate of the snorer. The truth of the matter is that it can actually be a sign of a much more serious health issue known as sleep apnea. Of course, not all snoring is the same. There are different types of snoring, and not all who snore suffer from sleep apnea.

If you’ve tried weight loss and quit smoking and drinking alcohol without results. Or, have changed the position in which you sleep and it still doesn’t help, then you may want to check with your doctor to rule out sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a condition in which you literally stop breathing several times throughout the night while sleeping. In some cases, the interruption can occur hundreds of times during the night. The duration of an interruption can last over a minute.

It’s important that you consult with your doctor if you suspect that your snoring is more than a modest annoyance as sleep apnea can be fatal. If you do indeed suffer from sleep apnea, you should also feel that your sleep is far less productive and you’ll feel tired throughout the day.

The good news for those who experience sleep apnea is that there are many treatments that are on hand that do not include surgery. Chances are that your physician will want to try the less invasive methods before resorting to surgical procedures that may or may not be necessary in order to properly treat your case of sleep apnea.

There are three different types of sleep apnea: central, obstructive and mixed. The first step your doctor is likely to take is to identify the specific apnea that plagues your sleep. Obstructive is the one you will hear the most about, since its the most common one.

Your doctor and you will work out a treatment plan once your particular apnea is discovered, that will correct or minimize your apnea. Behavioral changes such as diet and exercise, medications such as nasal sprays with steroids, thyroid replacement therapy medications, and weigh loss medications, dental appliances and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines, which are devices that deliver constant air pressure through a facemask in order to keep the airways open are all common treatments for obstructive sleep apnea.

When used alone or in conjunction with other treatment options, these devices and treatment options while not one size fits all, can be highly effective. Physical fitness tends to be a big problem for those with sleep apnea.

The cycle is brutal with the result of the apnea being a lack of energy that would be needed in order to burn off the required calories to achieve weight loss. Talk to your physician if youre overweight and suffering from sleep apnea. He or she may be able to prescribe medication for weight loss that will assist with both. The worst thing you can do for sleep apnea is to do nothing.