Snoring may be the first sign of a serious sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea. People with this disorder stop breathing many times during their sleep. In severe cases, sufferers wake up several hundred times during the night, which causes sleepiness during the day. Other symptoms may include:

• Breath-holding
• Excessive sleepiness/fatigue during the day
• Morning headaches
• Forgefulness/difficulty concentrating
• Excessive sweating during sleep
• Decreased sex drive/impotence
• Sudden awakenings from sleep, gasping for breath
• Difficulty initiating and/or maintaining sleep

Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening problem. During periods when breathing stops, blood oxygen levels fall. The heart pumps harder to circulate blood. Blood pressure rises and the heart may beat irregularly or even pause. Over time, sleep apnea can lead to chronic high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke.