Each night, millions of people are impacted by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sleep apnea causes a start-stop breathing pattern when tissue in the throat blocks the airway.

You may have heard the term sleep apnea, but do you know what it actually means? You may think it’s the same thing as snoring, but while the two can be related, they are most definitely not the same.

Studies have shown that sleep apnea can be a major contributing factor in depression and other mental health issues. One study published in 2014 showed that approximately 54% of participants who have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea had at least some anxiety, while 46% of participants had depressive symptoms.

Sleep apnea is a serious and potentially fatal problem. Sleep apnea comes with a variety of physical causes. Generally speaking, it can be traced to an obstruction in the mouth or throat that causes you to stop breathing in your sleep. At very least, this can unsettle your sleep and affect you physical and mental health.

Sleep apnea can put your health at risk in a variety of ways, from creating physical health problems to contributing to mental health issues including depression. Another associated danger that you might not be aware of is the link between obstructive sleep apnea and car accidents.

CPAP machines tend to be the first thing that comes to mind when people think of sleep apnea treatments. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. You may have an image in your mind of a person sleeping hooked up to a hose and mask. The CPAP machine pushes a stream of air through the throat.

Snoring may be the punchline to a lot of gags and stories, but in truth it’s no laughing matter. Snoring is often a clue to poor sleep and possibly serious health issues, and can create major problems.