Does every heavy snorer have this?
No. Im not sure of exact numbers but while not uncommon,, I seem to recall something like 1 in 5 or so is at risk tho.
I'll see if I can find better numbers than a shot off the hip. If not tonight, tomorrow.
http://www.sleepapnea.org/info/index.html
as many as 12 millions in the US alone..
excerpt from bove link
Sleep apnea is very common, as common as adult diabetes, and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Yet still because of the lack of awareness by the public and healthcare professionals, the vast majority remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences.
No, but a high percentage of serious snorers do.
I don't snore much at all, and had sleep apnea. We have a fair idea that it lead to the death of my father and grandfather, who died in his sleep. Both were monumental snorers while I am not.
I use a CPAP to breath at night. I swore I would never use one, but I sleep so well now that I won't go to bed without putting it on. I think the device has saved me and given me some of the best sleep that I've had in year.
Seriously, if you know someone and suspect they have this, they need a sleep test.
Snoring is an indicator of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
It does not mean that if you snore, even heavily, that you have OSA. However, virtually all OSA sufferers snore to some extent.
Pulse Oximetery devices are considered less than reliable for detection of OSA. They also have had a more difficult time with dark skinned people.
Bottom line: If you snore, you should be screened for OSA.