SNORING, UPPER AIRWAY RESISTANCE AND SLEEP APNEA
Snoring is the sound produced by vibration of the soft tissues of the throat. These tissues relax far more than is normally seen in those who don't snore. More than "just a social problem", snoring is the first indication of a far more dangerous sleeping disorder sleep apnea. If you are snoring, you most likely have a sleep related breathing disorder or will develop one in the near future.
Upper Airway Resistance is a relatively recently discovered category of sleep apnea. The main symptom is abnormal daytime sleepiness in people with chronic snoring who don't actually stop breathing in their sleep. This is a very common disorder that is often a precursor to fully developed sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea is characterized by cessation in breathing during your sleep, and normally accompanied by loud, habitual snoring episode. Sleep is disrupted by these cessations in breathing, which last for 10 or more seconds, often leaving you sleepy during the daytime. Sleep Apnea can be mild, moderate or severe, depending on the length and frequency of the stoppages in breathing while asleep. If you leave it untreated, sleep apnea leads to impaired daytime functioning, high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, and possibly even death.
This information should not substitute seeking responsible, professional medical care.