Garden-variety snoring, although annoying to a bedmate and often disruptive to the snorer's sleep, isn't potentially lethal. But sleep apnea - which can sound a lot like snoring but has more serious implications - can, if left untreated, do a body harm and raise one's risk of stroke, coronary artery disease, hypertension and perhaps diabetes. How do you tell the 2 conditions apart?

What's the difference?

Snoring happens when tissues at the back of the throat become flaccid and flap as you breathe. The resulting vibrations make noise. Mark Sanders, M.D., spokesman for the National Sleep Foundation, professor of medicine at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and director of its sleep center, notes that snoring is not benign. It can disrupt both the snorer's and the bed partner's sleep as well as contribute to marital stress.

Apnea - or temporary cessation of breathing - occurs when those relaxed tissues (which can include the uvula, tonsils and the back of the tongue) settle into the throat and partially or fully obstruct the airway. Blood oxygen levels drop and carbon dioxide builds up. Your brain responds by waking you up long enough to make the tissue taut, leading to that familiar head-snapping startle (known as a resuscitative snort, according to Sanders).

Are snoring and apnea mutually exclusive?

Snorers can have occasional episodes of apnea without having full-blown sleep apnea, says Edward Grandi, M.D., executive director of the American Sleep Apnea Association. But almost all people with sleep apnea snore, he adds.

How can I tell whether I'm just snoring or having sleep apnea?

One common signal of apnea: frequent trips to the bathroom during the night. "You feel this incredible urge to go to the bathroom," Grandi explains. "The brain is saying, 'Please, I know that if you get up you'll start breathing!' "

Some people with apnea often wake up in the morning with a sore throat.

Sanders cautions against relying on bedmates' descriptions of your snoring behavior. They're "not terribly accurate," he says. "It's the middle of the night. People aren't taking notes."

Still, if your bed partner tells you that you snore exceptionally loudly or stop breathing when you sleep, if you often wake with a choking sound or gasping for breath, if you are frequently fatigued, or if you unintentionally fall asleep during the day, you should see your doctor. He or she will most likely refer you to an accredited sleep center to be assessed and diagnosed.

Some sleep centers require an overnight stay during which details such as respiration, blood oxygen levels and brain activity are monitored as you sleep. Others send patients home with a device to measure their heart rates and blood oxygen levels during sleep. Sleep studies cost from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Many insurers cover the cost of such tests.

Because it's affected by so many variables - from body weight and age to alcohol use and even the thickness of your neck - sleep apnea is complicated to diagnose.

Is there anything I can do to stop snoring or prevent apnea?

Both snoring and apnea are exacerbated by alcohol consumption and being overweight, so quitting drinking and losing weight are good places to start. Many people find that they only snore or experience apnea when sleeping on their backs. One suggestion is to stick a tennis ball in a sock and sew it to the back of a nightshirt or T-shirt. The discomfort of the ball will soon teach you not to roll onto your back. Nostril-spreading adhesive strips might curb snoring if it's caused by congestion, but they won't fix back-of-the-throat snoring or apnea.

What if none of that helps?

Folks experiencing lots of apnea incidents - extreme cases feature as many as 100 episodes an hour, according to Grandi - should consider 1 of 2 medical devices to help keep their airways open. A dentist can craft an oral appliance consisting of 2 retainers that extend the lower jaw forward. This stiffens the tissues and makes them less inclined to collapse. Some people, including children whose tonsils block their airways when sleeping, may require surgery to remove obstructive tissue.

But the most common apnea treatment is the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. It features a mask that covers your mouth and nose. While you sleep, it forces air inward through your nose, and the pressure pushes your tongue forward and out of your throat. The treatment is very effective. But many patients find the paraphernalia and strap uncomfortable, so compliance can be low. CPAP devices can cost between about $350 and $800. Insurance often covers the cost.

Revolution Health Group

(These comments were largely drawn from the website sleeplessinamerica.org)

How much sleep do we need?

Everyone needs sleep. Infants sleep for up to 16 hours per day. Teenagers need nine hours per day, and adults need between five and ten hours, though seven or eight hours are ideal. Older adults need seven or eight hours, but they may be less able to sleep continuously and deeply.

What causes sleep loss?

Sleeplessness, frequent nighttime waking, or sleeping too much can be symptoms of depression. Clinical depression is more than passing sadness. It’s not something a person can snap out of. It is a real, treatable imbalance in brain chemicals. In addition to changes in sleep patterns, people with depression have a sad, low mood that lasts more than two weeks. They lose interest in things they once enjoyed. They may feel worthless, hopeless or excessively guilty. Their eating habits and weight may change. They may also be tearful, restless, exhausted and unable to concentrate. Thoughts of death or suicide may enter their minds. There are many different treatment options for depression, including talk therapy, medication and support from people who understand. Seeking treatment is nothing to be ashamed of. It is the first step toward getting back into the swing of life and feeling good about who you are. Don’t let fear or embarrassment stand in the way of talking honestly with your health care providers about depression.

Sleeplessness and Bipolar Disorder

Sleeplessness can also be a symptom of bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression). People with bipolar disorder have alternating periods of high and low mood. During the low periods, they have the symptoms of depression described above. During the high periods they may feel extremely self-confident and goal-directed. They might have racing thoughts and be unable to stay on one topic. They may overspend, have a lot of sex or engage in other risky behavior. They might be extremely energetic, talkative or irritable. And they may go for days without sleep and not miss it. They might spend their nights writing, working, or making phone calls.

With illnesses such as depression and bipolar disorder, getting the right amount of sleep can make a significant difference in your health.

Do you:

• Have trouble getting enough sleep?
• Wake up feeling tired?
• Fall asleep while reading or watching TV, whether you want to or not?
• Have trouble paying attention?
• Feel moody, easily annoyed, quick to anger?

With restless legs syndrome, a person is awakened by tingling sensations in his or her legs. Sleep apnea is most often associated with snoring. Both illnesses are often treatable.

Sleep loss may also be caused by a person’s mental state. Insomnia can sometimes be a temporary response to stress. But if your stress and sleep trouble last for more than two weeks and interfere with your life, they may be signs of something more serious.

If you have any of these symptoms make an appointment to see your health care provider as soon as possible.

Try not to nap during the day.

Use your bed only for sleep and intimacy.

Choose someplace other than your bed to watch TV, eat, do paperwork, and talk on the telephone.

Things that can keep you awake: