Snoring is a trademark symptom of sleep apnea, but not everyone who snores has it. Here is information on who should get checked for the sleep disorder. Risk factors include:

•Loud snoring and choking or gasping during sleep, signaling narrowed airways that can be temporarily blocked as throat muscles relax too much.

•Being overweight.

•A family history of apnea.

•Having small airways. Apnea can occur at any age, and in children, enlarged tonsils or adenoids may cause narrowed airways. In adults, weight, neck shape or other medical conditions can play a role.

•High blood pressure.

Aside from snoring, the main symptom is daytime sleepiness. Other signs may include morning headaches and dry throat, memory problems from lack of sleep, and irritability. People with mild cases may have few symptoms and need no special treatment.

The National Institutes of Health advises people with mild apnea to lose weight, avoid alcohol and sleep on the side instead of the back. For worse apnea, the main treatment is called CPAP, sleeping with a nasal mask that forces air through the nose to keep airways open.

Other options include custom-fit mouthpieces that correct teeth, tongue or jaw problems that can block airflow while sleeping, or surgery.

Alvaro Castillo has been writing reports for 10 years on healthy sleep habits and stress with positive results. For more information check out his website at http://www.mynighttimehealth.com